Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Kazakhstan

Kazakh Opposition Leader's Murder Trial Resumes

Altynbek Sarsenbaev in Almaty last year (RFE/RL)

August 21, 2006 -- The trial in the murder of Kazakh opposition leader Altynbek Sarsenbaev resumed today in the Kazakh town of Taldy-Qorgan.

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August 21, 2006

Lawyer Nurlan Ustemirov today demanded police protection for the relatives of one of the two main defendants, Rustam Ibragimov.

He said Ibragimov's family members were under threat. He cited a nonfatal traffic accident his client's brother and father had on August 14 as evidence.

State prosecutors accuse former security officer Ibragimov of executing Sarsenbaev and two of his aides in February.

They have required that the court sentence him and the alleged mastermind of the triple murder -- former Senate official Yerzhan Utembaev -- to death.

The trial had adjourned on August 14 to give defense lawyers time to prepare their speeches.

Sarsenbaev's former party members and relatives last week said they would boycott the trial, which they described as a "farce."

(Kazakhstan Today)

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