Bekzat Maqsutuly, a Kazakh activist known for his criticism of the expected introduction of visa-free travel for Chinese citizens coming to the country, was detained in Almaty on unspecified charges on May 17, one day before the China-Central Asian summit in China's ancient city of Xi'an. Kazakh officials said earlier that a Kazakh-Chinese agreement on visa-free visits for Chinese citizens for up to 30 days will be signed during the summit. On May 16, Maqsutuly said he planned to organize a rally against the agreement. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Kazakh Activist Detained On Eve Of China-Central Asia Summit
A woman walks in front of a China-Central Asia Summit sign in Xi'an, China, on May 17.