Police Detain Kazakh Women Chained In Protest

Kazakh police detain protesters against the confiscation of their land by the state in Astana on April 15.

ASTANA -- Police in Kazakhstan have detained six women who had chained themselves to a fence outside the Prosecutor-General's Office in Astana to protest against the city authorities' actions.

The women said city authorities had not paid adequate compensation for seizing their land and demolishing their houses to clear the way for the construction of state buildings in Astana.

The protesters on April 15 demanded to meet with Prosecutor-General Askhat Dauylbaev.

Police forcibly removed their chains and detained the women. Police prevented journalists from filming the incident.

On April 14, four of the women had chained themselves in front of the parliament building. A lawmaker, Svetlana Bychkova, then met with the women and promised to solve their problems.

Police detained nearly 30 people, including children, during a similar protest on April 11 in Astana.