Fourth officer charged over Kazakh clash deaths
Authorities in Kazakhstan have added another police officer to a list of reportedly senior police being charged for using excessive force against striking oil workers in the western city of Zhanaozen, Radio Liberty reported.
At least 16 people were killed and more than 100 injured during riots on December 16 there, where tensions had risen after months of strikes and tent protests in the city center.
Officials said on January 25 that three police officers were charged with opening fire at rioters.
The new charge alleged that a fourth "senior" officer had beaten a suspected rioter to death.
When they initially announced the police cases, prosecutors also said three opposition politicians would face prosecution for allegedly inciting striking workers to violence. They include the head of the unregistered Algha (Forward) party, Vladimir Kozlov; the editor of the independent "Vzglyad" (Glance) newspaper, Igor Vinyavsky; and former presidential candidate Serik Saparghali.
Their arrests have been denounced by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and human rights groups.
Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.
Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.
By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.
You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper
Thank you!