Accessibility links

Breaking News

Wives Of Jailed Kazakh Opposition Leaders Hold Protest


Bolat Abilov
Bolat Abilov
ALMATY -- The wives of two jailed leaders of Kazakhstan’s opposition Republican Social Democratic Azat (Freedom) Party have led a protest outside the National Security Committee’s detention center in Almaty, where their husbands are being held.

Some 20 opposition activists joined the protest by Aigul Abilova and Roza Qosanova on March 7.

The two women said they have not been allowed to see their husbands or to send them clothes or food since they were detained more than one week ago.

Amirzhan Qosanov and Bolat Abilov were arrested February 28 and sentenced to 15 and 18 days in jail, respectively for organizing an unsanctioned protest that day against Kazakh government policies.

The protest had condemned a government crackdown on activists following January's parliamentary elections and the deadly violence in the western town of Zhanaozen in December.
  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

    RFE/RL's Kazakh Service offers informed and accurate reporting in the Kazakh and Russian languages about issues that matter in Kazakhstan, while providing a dynamic platform for audience engagement and the free exchange of news and ideas.

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG