Lawyer Disputes Claim Of Kazakh Oppositionist's Suicide

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)