ORAL, Kazakhstan -- A trial has begun in this western Kazakh city of four men accused of attacking a prominent journalist.
Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a reporter for the "Uralskaya nedelya" weekly, was left in serious condition when he was stabbed and shot with an air pistol in April 2012.
Akhmedyarov says the attack was related to his journalistic activities, which have sparked controversies and legal actions.
Akhmedyarov was found guilty in July of insulting a local official and ordered to pay the official a penalty of about $33,000.
In November, he was ordered to pay $7,700 to a financial police officer after a judge ruled that Akhmedyarov had insulted the officer in an article.
In October, Akhmedyarov received the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism in the United States.
Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a reporter for the "Uralskaya nedelya" weekly, was left in serious condition when he was stabbed and shot with an air pistol in April 2012.
Akhmedyarov says the attack was related to his journalistic activities, which have sparked controversies and legal actions.
Akhmedyarov was found guilty in July of insulting a local official and ordered to pay the official a penalty of about $33,000.
In November, he was ordered to pay $7,700 to a financial police officer after a judge ruled that Akhmedyarov had insulted the officer in an article.
In October, Akhmedyarov received the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism in the United States.
