ORAL, Kazakhstan -- One of Kazakhstan's most prominent independent journalists, Lukpan Akhmedyarov, has gone on trial in his native western city of Oral.
A local policeman filed a lawsuit against Akhmedyarov saying his reputation was damaged by the journalist's article and demanded 3 million tenges ($19,700) from Akhmedyarov as compensation.
Akhmedyarov, a correspondent for the "Uralskaya nedelya" weekly in Oral, survived a vicious attack by unknown assailants who stabbed him and shot him with a pneumatic pistol in April.
He was later found guilty of insulting a local official in West Kazakhstan Oblast and ordered to pay the official 5 million tenges ($32,800).
Akhmedyarov says the attack and lawsuit against him were politically motivated.
Last month, Akhmedyarov won the prestigious international Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism.
A local policeman filed a lawsuit against Akhmedyarov saying his reputation was damaged by the journalist's article and demanded 3 million tenges ($19,700) from Akhmedyarov as compensation.
Akhmedyarov, a correspondent for the "Uralskaya nedelya" weekly in Oral, survived a vicious attack by unknown assailants who stabbed him and shot him with a pneumatic pistol in April.
He was later found guilty of insulting a local official in West Kazakhstan Oblast and ordered to pay the official 5 million tenges ($32,800).
Akhmedyarov says the attack and lawsuit against him were politically motivated.
Last month, Akhmedyarov won the prestigious international Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism.
