TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Authorities in Kazakhstan arrested a former interior minister on Tuesday, in connection with deadly police crackdown on unrest that gripped the country in 2022, Kazakh news media reported.
The Prosecutor General’s Office announced on Monday that Erlan Turgumbayev was detained on charges of “abuse of power and official authority resulting in grave consequences” in the harsh crackdown of riots by the police. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is in charge of the nation’s police force.
The unrest started in the city of Zhanaozen on Jan. 2, 2022, when residents protested a sharp increase in the cost of liquefied petroleum gas, commonly used as fuel for vehicles in Kazakhstan.
Those protests evolved into criticisms of corruption, economic inequality against former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose critics say have been profiting off the country’s vast energy wealth ever since assuming office in 1991.
5 takeaways from the global negotiations on a treaty to end plastic pollution
Despair in Gaza as fighting intensifies, despite Israel promise to scale back
Peregrine mission has 'no chance' of soft lunar landing
COP28 deal 'significant step forward', Climate Change Minister says
WADA defends pick of Swiss prosecutor under scrutiny in review of Chinese swimmers case
Truck driver grabs schoolgirl in 'concerning' West Auckland incident
US launches more strikes against Houthis in Yemen
Former Italian foreign minister convicted for role in sale of Monte Carlo apartment
Boeing 737 Max 9: United Airlines finds loose bolts during inspections
Paris Olympic athletes to feast on freshly baked bread, select cheeses and plenty of veggie options
BNP Paribas focuses on offshore investor demand for NZX