Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Kazakhstan

Lawyer Disputes Claim Of Kazakh Oppositionist's Suicide

Zamenbek Nurkadilov (file photo) (RFE/RL)

30 November 2005 -- A lawyer for the widow of Kazakh opposition figure Zamanbek Nurkadilov, who was found dead on 12 November, is disagreeing with the official finding on Nurkadilov's death -- that it was suicide.

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November 30, 2005

The official investigation says that Nurkadilov first shot himself twice in the chest before putting the gun to his head and firing a bullet into his brain.

Serikkali Musin, a lawyer for Nurkadilov's wife, says he does not believe that Nurkadilov killed himself. He says findings of the probe -- for example, that a pillow was used to muffle the gunshots -- indicate foul play.

Nukadilov's wife, Makpal Zhunusova, also disagrees with the official cause of death.

Nurkadilov was a former mayor of Almaty and government minister. He later joined the opposition and accused the government of corruption.

(Interfax/ferghana.ru)

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