TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Authorities in Kazakhstan arrested a former interior minister on Tuesday, in connection with deadly police crackdown on unrest that gripped the country in 2022, Kazakh news media reported.
The Prosecutor General’s Office announced on Monday that Erlan Turgumbayev was detained on charges of “abuse of power and official authority resulting in grave consequences” in the harsh crackdown of riots by the police. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is in charge of the nation’s police force.
The unrest started in the city of Zhanaozen on Jan. 2, 2022, when residents protested a sharp increase in the cost of liquefied petroleum gas, commonly used as fuel for vehicles in Kazakhstan.
Those protests evolved into criticisms of corruption, economic inequality against former leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, whose critics say have been profiting off the country’s vast energy wealth ever since assuming office in 1991.
Kristin Cavallari, 37, ignores critics of her age
Supreme Court of U.S. Michigan keeps Trump on 2024 primary ballot
Iraqi president visits Cyprus for 1st time
Truce deal in Gaza enters into force
Mohammad Mokhber: Who is Iran’s acting president?
Chinese firm obtains country's 1st passenger drone production certificate
Record Qingming holiday box office heats up for May Day moviegoing frenzy
India's ruling party wins 3 states' elections: preliminary poll
Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
Lionel Messi scores fifth goal and has an assist in Inter Miami's 3
Children are evacuated from school 'during an exam' after threat made via email
World leaders must break deadly cycle of global warming at COP28 climate conference, warns UN chief