Kazakh Protesters Demand Renaming Of Street In Almaty For People Killed In January Unrest

Activists with the opposition movement Oyan, Qazaqstan! (Wake Up, Kazakhstan!) held a rally on November 14 in Almaty during which they demanded the renaming of Nazarbaev Avenue to Kantar (January) Avenue in memory of those killed during anti-government protests in January that claimed at least 238 lives. The action lasted approximately 10-15 minutes. Five participants pasted signs with the inscription Kantar on the facade of one of the buildings on Nazarbaev Avenue, although police later took them down. One of the protesters, Asem Zhapisheva, said the participants opposed the avenue being named after a "bloody dictator" and if the authorities cannot rename the street Kantar, "we will do it ourselves." To read the original story from RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.