Kanat Isaev in Almaty today (RFE/RL)
ALMATY, June 4, 2007 (RFE/RL) -- Kazakh police have detained two opposition activists protesting against recent constitutional amendments that allow President Nursultan Nazarbaev to stay in office for life, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reported.
Two members of the unregistered Algha party, Kanat Isaev and Askhat Konkaev, were arrested today in Almaty's central square.
Isaev said that parliament approved the amendments "in just 18 minutes. That will never do. It should have been decided by the people through a referendum. These kinds of decisions should be made only by the people. I am sure it is just funny. We look like a joke in front of the world."
It is the forth public protest in Almaty since parliament approved the changes on May 18 allowing Nazarbaev to run for an unlimited number of terms as president. Other future presidents are limited to two terms.
Other protesters have been detained but eventually released after paying a fine.
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Isaev said that parliament approved the amendments "in just 18 minutes. That will never do. It should have been decided by the people through a referendum. These kinds of decisions should be made only by the people. I am sure it is just funny. We look like a joke in front of the world."
It is the forth public protest in Almaty since parliament approved the changes on May 18 allowing Nazarbaev to run for an unlimited number of terms as president. Other future presidents are limited to two terms.
Other protesters have been detained but eventually released after paying a fine.
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
SUBSCRIBE For regular news and analysis on all five Central Asian countries by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Central Asia Report."