The Sverdlovsk District Court of Bishkek released the bank accounts of three media (24.kg, Kloop, Azattyk) and journalist Ali Toktakunov. This became possible after filing an application to cancel the arrest of accounts by Matraimov.
“In order to avoid talking about the fact that the Matraimovs are trying to put pressure on the press by seizing and closing accounts, we submitted an application to cancel interim measures,” Tatyana Karyzhinskaya (the lawyer representing Matraimov’s family) said at the press conference.
On Friday, December 13, Tatyana Karyzhinskaya, the lawyer representing the interests of Matraimov’s family, spoke about the lawsuit against three media.
According to Karyzhinskaya, the statement of claim was not filed immediately. The first part of the investigation was released on May 30, which reported information discrediting the honor and dignity of Matraimov’s family, as well as a charity fund created by them to help those in need.
“For our part, we have made a number of attempts to resolve these issues in media’s manner. In particular, we applied to some public organizations, filed several complaints with the Media Complaints Commission, and also appealed to the administration of radio “Svoboda” with a request to take some measures and stop disseminating defamatory information without supporting documents”, said the lawyer.
She recalled that during the first investigation, the radio “Svoboda” submitted some documents which were untrue. The falseness of these documents was subsequently proved, and this information was published in the media.
“However, instead of stopping these attacks, there was the second part of the investigation. Journalists openly accused all members of Matraimov’s family of taking part in shadow income, and they also made Raiymbek Matraimov a symbol of corruption. It makes no sense to say that such accusations can only be made if there is a guilty verdict that has entered into legal force, which in this case does not take place. Tread on a worm and it will turn. In order to resolve this issue in the legal field, the lawsuit was filed to protect honor and dignity, and to declare the information invalid,” explained Tatyana Karyzhinskaya.
The lawyer also said about the amount of compensation that Matraimov’s family demands from the media.
“Everyone is outraged by the amount of the moral compensation. And how much would you assess the moral damage, if the family of Matraimov was demonized? We are not saying that journalists do not have the right to cover information, but this information must be submitted with appropriate evidence. After the first investigation, Ali Toktakunov promised to provide original documents. It was May 30. To this day, any document has not been submitted, including to law enforcement agencies. Moreover, Ali Toktakunov does not come to the criminal case’s interrogations,” Karyzhinskaya emphasized.
Recall, the former head of the Customs Service, Raiymbek Matraimov, filed the lawsuit against radio “Svoboda”, Kloop, and 24.kg. Claims were also brought against journalist Ali Toktakunov. The total sum of the lawsuit amounted to $59.5 million. The reason for the claims of Raiymbek Matraimov was a journalistic investigation into corruption in the Customs Service of the Kyrgyz Republic and the withdrawal of $700 million from Kyrgyzstan.
Leave feedback about this