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Aigul Kasenova, the wife of KazTAG's editor-in-chief Amir Kasenov, has voiced strong objections to a court's decision to extend her husband's house arrest, alleging the ruling was made with undue haste.

Concerns Over Judicial Process

According to Kasenova, the judge reportedly took only about a minute to deliberate before issuing the decision to prolong Amir Kasenov's house arrest. She argues that this swiftness indicates the case's merits were not thoroughly examined, rendering the decision unlawful and unfounded.

Kasenova's legal counsel, Salimzhan Musin, echoed these concerns, stating that the court relied on general statements rather than concrete evidence to justify continuing the criminal case. The specifics of the charges and the evidence supporting them were reportedly not adequately assessed.

Unsubstantiated Damages and Professional Restrictions

A significant point of contention is the alleged amount of damages attributed to Kasenov, which was reportedly compared to half the budget of the Principality of Monaco. However, Kasenova claims that no concrete documents were presented to substantiate this extraordinary figure.

Furthermore, the court's decision has placed severe restrictions on Kasenov's professional activities. As a journalist, he is barred from using computers and communication devices, and is prohibited from speaking with anyone other than his family members and lawyer. Kasenova highlighted that these restrictions directly impede his ability to work and earn a living, impacting their family of three young children.

Broader Implications for Freedom of Speech

Kasenova drew parallels between her husband's situation and what she perceives as a wider crackdown on freedom of speech in recent weeks. She recalled a Russian court's demand to block material concerning the alleged ties between the 'Timur Turlov' company and Russia's FSB.

She views the Kazakhstan court's rapid decision against her husband as part of this broader pattern of pressure. "We will continue to fight for justice. The truth is on our side," Kasenova concluded.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.