Kazakh NGO Offices Searched, Activists Detained

Kazakh civic activist Bakhyt Tumenova

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Financial police have reportedly searched the offices of a nongovernmental organization in Almaty and detained two activists late.

Lawyer Yelena Savinova told RFE/RL on March 12 that the chairwoman of the "Aman-saulyq" (Healthcare) group, Bakhyt Tumenova, and an employee, Lyudmila Zorina, were detained the previous day.

Tumenova was later released, while Zorina remains in custody.

Savinova refused to give any further details.

Financial police officials in Almaty also refused to talk about the search and detentions.

Meanwhile, the zakon.kz online news portal cites sources in Almaty police as saying that "Aman-saulyq" is under investigation for alleged money laundering.

The group's leader, Bakhyt Tumenova, is a well-known veteran opposition activist.