Kazakhstan Jails Five Opposition Supporters

31 January 2005 (Almaty) -- Kazakh authorities today jailed five supporters of the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK) opposition party for participating in an unsanctioned rally.

A lawyer for the DCK, Yevgenii Zhovtis, said the five were sentenced to five to seven days in prison for taking part in Saturday's opposition rally in Almaty.

The DCK faces closure after a court ruling earlier this month said that the party poses a threat to national security.

Saturday's rally -- attended by more than 1,000 people -- was held in protest over that ruling. DCK party officials say they are planning to hold further rallies in the future.

(RFE/RL's Kazakh Service/Reuters)