ALMATY, Kazakhstan, April 28 (UPI) -- Reporters Without Borders condemned Friday the beating of Kenzhegali Aytbakiyev, a Khazak journalist, of the opposition weekly Ayna-Plus on 23 April.
Aytbakiyev told the Paris-based media watchdog group that he lost consciousness for about three hours after being pushed to the ground and repeatedly kicked by a group of about 10 people. After coming round, he managed to stagger home. He has a fractured skull and jaw and will have to undergo surgery. His assailants took no money or other item of value from him, leading to believe that the motive was political.
"The attack on Aytbakiyev was extremely brutal and speaks volumes about the way opposition journalists are treated in Kazakhstan," the press freedom organization said. "The authorities must find his assailants and give him protection. The independent press was gagged all last year to ensure President Nursultan Nazarbayev's reelection with 90 percent of the votes in December."
Aytbakiyev was taken to hospital the day after the attack. He can still barely speak after four days in intensive care and the doctors say his condition is serious.
Aytbakiyev has worked for nearly eight years as a journalist. Ayna-Plus weekly was closed by the authorities this month because of its coverage of the so-called Kazakhgate corruption scandal, in which the opposition claims that President Nazarbayev is implicated.
Aytbakiyev has been attacked on the streets twice before. The first time was in 2002, when he was with a colleague, Bakhytgul Makimbay, who was also attacked. The second time was last month, when he was attacked by a group of youths for no apparent reason.
