AQTAU, Kazakhstan -- A Kazakh court has sentenced five police officials to jail terms of between five and seven years for their roles in the deadly unrest last December in the oil town of Zhanaozen.
Three of the defendants are high-ranking regional police officials.
Before sentencing, the court in the western region of Manghystau on May 28 found the defendants guilty of abusing their authority during the Zhanaozen violence.
Police shot dead at least 16 people during a crackdown on an oil workers' strike in Zhanaozen on December 16, 2011.
A former detention center warden in Zhanaozen was sentenced to five years in jail on May 17 for abusing his authority in connection with the death of a suspect arrested during the crackdown.
Separately, 37 civilians are on trial on accusations of inciting the Zhanaozen violence.
Three of the defendants are high-ranking regional police officials.
Before sentencing, the court in the western region of Manghystau on May 28 found the defendants guilty of abusing their authority during the Zhanaozen violence.
Police shot dead at least 16 people during a crackdown on an oil workers' strike in Zhanaozen on December 16, 2011.
A former detention center warden in Zhanaozen was sentenced to five years in jail on May 17 for abusing his authority in connection with the death of a suspect arrested during the crackdown.
Separately, 37 civilians are on trial on accusations of inciting the Zhanaozen violence.
