Kazakh Authorities Register Opposition Group

The late Altynbek Sarsenbaev pictured at the funeral of another slain opposition leader, Zamanbek Nurkadilov, in December 2005 (RFE/RL) PRAGUE, March 21, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- The Kazakh authorities have registered the party of an opposition leader killed in February.

The party, Naghyz Ak Zhol (True Bright Path), was denied registration before Kazakhstan's presidential election in December 2005, preventing it from fielding a candidate.

One of the parties joint leaders, Altynbek Sarsenbaev, was murdered in February. The authorities say he was killed by state security operatives. The motives were reportedly personal.

Another co-chairman of Naghyz Ak Zhol, Bulat Abilov, is due to return to jail soon to complete a sentence for organizing an unauthorized rally on February 26 to commemorate Sarsenbaev. Abilov was hospitalized after going on a hunger strike to protest his jail sentence.