Kazakh Activist Charged With Organizing Unsanctioned Gathering

ALMATY -- Police in Almaty briefly detained the leader of Kazakhstan's Talmas (Persistance) movement and informed him that charges have been filed against him, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.

Aynur Kurmanov was detained on July 29 and released later the same day. He told RFE/RL that he is accused of organizing an unsanctioned gathering on July 22.

Kurmanov said he organized the public gathering with the goal of handing Almaty city authorities a petition addressed to President Nursultan Nazarbayev demanding the immediate resignation of the Cabinet.

In December, Kurmanov was found guilty of organizing an unsanctioned public gathering and sentenced to 15 days in jail.