ASTANA -- Two prominent Kazakh pro-reform activists have been barred from leaving the country to meet with European Parliament officials.
Bolat Atabaev and Zhanbolat Mamai told RFE/RL on April 17 that the National Security Committee had rejected their request to allow them to travel to Europe later this month.
European Parliament members invited the two activists to discuss the current social and political situation in Kazakhstan.
Both activists were banned in January from leaving the country as they were charged with "inciting social hatred" after they visited the southwestern town of Zhanaozen, where at least 16 protesters were shot dead by security forces in mid-December.
Bolat Atabaev and Zhanbolat Mamai told RFE/RL on April 17 that the National Security Committee had rejected their request to allow them to travel to Europe later this month.
European Parliament members invited the two activists to discuss the current social and political situation in Kazakhstan.
Both activists were banned in January from leaving the country as they were charged with "inciting social hatred" after they visited the southwestern town of Zhanaozen, where at least 16 protesters were shot dead by security forces in mid-December.
