The West Kazakhstan regional court on December 14 rejected an appeal filed by opposition activist Amangeldi Orazbaev against a lower court decision that replaced his parole-like sentence with service in a penal colony. The 63-year-old Orazbaev was handed an 18-month parole-like sentence in February over the distribution of leaflets supporting the unregistered opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan party. In October, another court ordered Orazbaev's arrest and transfer to a penal colony, saying he had violated parole twice. Orazbaev insists that the case against him is politically motivated. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Kazakh Court Rejects Appeal Of Opposition Activist Against His Transfer To Penal Colony
Kazakh activist Amangeldi Orazbaev (center) in court earlier this year.