ASTANA -- The Kazakh Communist Party's Astana branch has sent an open letter to Kazakhstan's leadership demanding the immediate firing of Astana Mayor Imangali Tasmagambetov.
The letter warned President Nursultan Nazarbaev and Prime Minister Karim Masimov that they would start mass protests if Tasmagambetov is not sacked because of alleged corruption.
Kazakh Communist Party leader Serikbolsyn Abdildin told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that the action of his colleagues in Astana was initiated and coordinated by him and other party activists in Almaty.
Tasmagambetov was Kazakh prime minister from 2002-2003 and served as Almaty mayor from 2004-2008.