Kazakh Police Detain Activists Protesting Seizure Of Private Lands By State

Police in the Kazakh capital, Astana, have detained some 15 activists protesting the confiscation of private land by the government.

The protesters first rallied in front of the parliament building on May 23 and put their petition in a mailbox there.

Then they marched to the presidential office headquarters, where they chained themselves to one another.

They put another copy of their petition into a mailbox there and demanded a meeting with President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

Police detained the protesters when they tried to enter the grounds of the presidential office building.

Protesters saidlocal authorities routinely confiscate land from ordinary people and justify the move by citing "state necessities." But in some cases, they say, the confiscated lands were later used to build private homes for local authorities or businessmen.