ASTANA -- The appeals board of the Kazakh Supreme Court has ordered the release of six people convicted for their roles in the 2011 mass disturbances in Kazakhstan’s southwestern town of Zhanaozen.*
The court commuted three-year jail terms to two-year suspended sentences in the case on May 28.
At least 16 people were shot dead during a police crackdown on an oil workers' protest in Zhanaozen in December 2011.
In June 2012, more than a dozen people were sentenced to jail terms of between three and seven years for inciting the Zhanaozen disturbances.
Five Zhanaozen police officials and the former warden of a detention center were sentenced to jail terms of between five and seven years for abuse of authority during the riots.
In October, opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison for inciting the disturbances.
*CORRECTION: This story initially suggested that the six defendants had been released, when in fact the court merely rendered its verdict on May 28. They were released on June 1.
The court commuted three-year jail terms to two-year suspended sentences in the case on May 28.
At least 16 people were shot dead during a police crackdown on an oil workers' protest in Zhanaozen in December 2011.
In June 2012, more than a dozen people were sentenced to jail terms of between three and seven years for inciting the Zhanaozen disturbances.
Five Zhanaozen police officials and the former warden of a detention center were sentenced to jail terms of between five and seven years for abuse of authority during the riots.
In October, opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov was sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison for inciting the disturbances.
*CORRECTION: This story initially suggested that the six defendants had been released, when in fact the court merely rendered its verdict on May 28. They were released on June 1.
