ALMATY -- Two men have been sentenced in connection with a string of deadly fires that have struck markets in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty.
The director of the Olzha market, Musaghali Aldabergenov, and local businessman Zhanat Qairanov were sentenced on April 10 to four and three years of freedom limitation, respectively.
They were found guilty of negligence that led to the destruction of property by fire.
At least 10 fires destroyed large sections of various bazaars in Almaty since September 2013. One of the fires killed two people in December.
The judge refused to look into the demands of vendors requesting the local government to compensate them for their losses.
Almaty officials have refused to rebuild the damaged markets, saying they were established illegally in the 1990s and interfered with plans to build new highways in the area.
The director of the Olzha market, Musaghali Aldabergenov, and local businessman Zhanat Qairanov were sentenced on April 10 to four and three years of freedom limitation, respectively.
They were found guilty of negligence that led to the destruction of property by fire.
At least 10 fires destroyed large sections of various bazaars in Almaty since September 2013. One of the fires killed two people in December.
The judge refused to look into the demands of vendors requesting the local government to compensate them for their losses.
Almaty officials have refused to rebuild the damaged markets, saying they were established illegally in the 1990s and interfered with plans to build new highways in the area.