Kazakh journalist Vladimir Severny, who was sentenced to seven years in prison earlier this month on extortion charges that he rejects, launched a hunger strike protesting his incarceration, his lawyer said on December 29. A court in Almaty also sentenced Severny’s wife, Nargiz Severnaya, to eight years in prison on December 4 but said she may start serving her prison term in 2028. Investigators say the married journalists blackmailed two businesses in Almaty, extorting significant amount of cash from them for withholding sensitive information related to the businesses from being published. The couple denies any wrongdoing. To read the original story by Current Time, click here.
Kazakh Journalist Imprisoned On Extortion Charge Launches Hunger Strike
Vladimir Severny and Nargiz Severnaya