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February 13, 2006

Kazakh Opposition Figure Found Dead In Almaty

Altynbek Sarsenbaev spoke to journalists on 15 January (RFE/RL)

ALMATY, 13 February 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A prominent Kazakh opposition member was found dead today in Kazakhstan's commercial capital,  Almaty, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported.

The leader of the Kazakh opposition group For a Just Kazakhstan, Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, tells RFE/RL that his political ally, Altynbek Sarsenbaev, was found shot dead along with his bodyguard and driver. Their bodies were found in a car on Almaty's outskirts.


Sarsenbaev was reported missing on 11 February.


Sarsenbaev was a co-chairman of the True Ak Zhol opposition party. He previously served as Kazakhstan's ambassador to Russia, and twice served as the head of Kazakhstan's Information Ministry.


He's the second prominent Kazakh opposition figure to be found shot dead in recent months. On 12 November 2005, Zamanbek Nurkadilov was found shot dead in his Almaty apartment. He was a former mayor of Almaty and government minister before joining the opposition and accusing the government of corruption.


(with material from Interfax, Kazakhstan Today)


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