Kazakh court upholds sentence against Zhanaozen's ex-mayor
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 31 October 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kazakh court upholds sentence against Zhanaozen's ex-mayor, 31 October 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/509b8b021e.html [accessed 31 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
October 31, 2012
By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
Oraq Sarbopeev (photo by Elena Kostyuchenko)
AQTAU, Kazakhstan – A regional court in Kazakhstan has upheld the 10-year prison sentence for the former mayor of the western town of Zhanaozen.
Oraq Sarbopeev was found guilty of abuse of office and sentenced in September.
He was tried in connection with violent clashes between striking oil workers and police.
Police shot dead 16 people during clashes in December.
Authorities also have sought to prosecute a number of local officials suspected of stealing oil companies funds meant for employees.
Sarbopeev's predecessor, Zhalghas Babakhanov, was sentenced in September to two years in jail for embezzling oil company funds during his time as Zhanaozen mayor between 1999 and 2009.
In June, 13 people were sentenced to prison terms between three and seven years for inciting the Zhanaozen disorder.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
