Kazakh court upholds sentences on 9 people convicted for Zhanaozen riots in Dec 2011
AKTAU. Jan 17 (Interfax) - The cassation board of the Mangystau Regional Court in Kazakhstan has upheld sentences earlier handed down on nine people convicted for involvement in riots in the town of Zhanaozen in December 2011.
"Considering the cases against Saktaganov, Kosbarmakov, Aminov, Zhusipbayev, Kaliyev, Nepes, Utkilov, Askaruly, and Besmagambetov, the cassation board upheld the Aktau City Court's sentence of June 4, 2012 and the ruling by the Mangystau Regional Court's criminal appeal board of August 6, 2012," the court told Interfax on Thursday.
It was reported earlier that mass riots broke out in Zhanaozen and the village of Shetpe in the Mangystau region on December 16-17, 2011, in which 15 people were killed and more than 100 injured.
The Aktau City Court handed down sentences on 34 out of the 37 people accused of organizing the riots on June 4, 2012. Seventeen people, including 2 minors, then received suspended sentences of 3 years in prison; 7 others were given three years in prison, and 3 of them were pardoned; 3 others were given 2 years in prison and were also pardoned; 2 more were sentenced to 4 years in prison, one to 5 years in prison, and 3 to 6 years in prison. One person was sentenced to 7 years in prison, and his sentence was later commuted to 5 years. The court also acquitted 3 people.
