A Kazakh court ruled on October 30 that the trial of the chairman of Kazakhstan's unregistered Algha Kazakhstan (Forward Kazakhstan) party, Marat Zhylanbaev, will start on November 2 and will be held behind closed doors. Zhylanbaev was initially sentenced to 20 days in jail in May for holding a picket in March to demand the release of political prisoners and to urge Western countries to impose sanctions on Kazakh officials for "helping" Russia evade sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine. Zhylanbaev was later remanded in custody on charges of taking part in a banned group's activities and financing an extremist organization. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
Date Set For Kazakh Opposition Leader's Trial
Marat Zhylanbaev appears in court in Astana on October 30.