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Restive Kazakh Oil Town's Former Mayor Rearrested


Oraq Sarbopeev was charged with abuse of office.
Oraq Sarbopeev was charged with abuse of office.
The former mayor of Kazakhstan’s restive western town of Zhanaozen, Oraq Sarbopeev, was rearrested on August 2 after a regional court of appeal overruled a city court's decision to acquit him.

Sarbopeev was charged with abuse of office and bribe taking earlier this year when investigations into violent clashes between striking oil workers and police had been launched.

Police shot at least 16 people during the clashes in Zhanaozen in mid-December.

Also on August 2, the Manghystau regional court started hearings into the appeals of 15 local citizens of Zhanaozen sentenced in June for their roles in the December clashes.

Based on reporting by KazTAG and Interfax

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