Watchdog

The European Parliament's largest political bloc will nominate Crimean Tatar politician Mustafa Dzhemilev for the 2016 Sakharov Prize.

The European People's Party will nominate Dzhemilev on September 14.

The European Conservatives and Reformists bloc -- consisting of Britain's Conservative Party and the Polish Law and Justice party nominated him a day earlier.

Dzhemilev is expected to be one of the three shortlisted candidates chosen by the European Parliament's foreign affairs and development committees vote on October 11. Members of the European Parliament will decide the winner on October 27.

Dzhemilev is a Ukrainian lawmaker and a well-known Soviet-era human rights activist.

Dzhemilev, a former chairman of the Mejlis of Crimean Tatar people who strongly opposed Crimea's occupation and annexation by Russia, is currently living in Kyiv.

The Sakharov Prize -- with a cash prize of 50,000 euros ($57,206) -- has been handed out since 1988 to honor individuals and organizations who defend human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The high-profile trial of a Kazakh businessman charged with attempting to overthrow the government, extremism, and illegal weapon possession has begun in Astana.

The Astana Military Court began the hearings behind closed doors on September 14.

Tokhtar Toleshov, chief executive of one of Kazakhstan's largest breweries, was detained in January along with 24 other suspects, including the ex-deputy prosecutor-general and the former chief of the South Kazakhstan regional police. All 25 men are on trial.

Toleshov's detention followed a crackdown by Astana on both pro-Russian and nationalist activists.

Toleshov had run the Kazakh office of a Russia-based organization called the Center for the Analysis of Terrorist Threats. He had also advised Russia's parliament on matters of economic cooperation and religion.

Based on reporting by inform.kz and nur.kz