Kazakh stand-up comedian Aleksandr Merkul, who often tells jokes about the current government and Russian President Vladimir Putin, was sentenced to 10 days in jail on July 26 on a charge of hooliganism. The charge stems from his performance in a restaurant in Astana last month, a video of which went viral on the Internet. The 31-year-old Merkul pleaded guilty. Earlier in May, another Kazakh comedian, Nuraskhan Basqozhaev, was also sentenced to 10 days in jail on the same charge. Many stand-up comedians in Kazakhstan have expressed concerns over the sentence, calling it an attack on freedom of speech. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Another Kazakh Stand-Up Comedian Jailed For 'Hooliganism'
Kazakh comedian Aleksandr Merkul was sentenced to 10 days in jail for using profanity in his jokes. (file photo)