Opposition activist Madina Koketaeva, who unsuccessfully took part in March 19 parliamentary elections, has been detained in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, amid an ongoing crackdown over dissent following the balloting.
Fifteen Russian diplomats expelled by Norway this week had sought to recruit sources, intercept communications, and buy advanced technology, the Norwegian PST security police said on April 14.
Cautious electoral reforms following deadly political unrest last year have given Kazakhstan’s March 19 elections a rare whiff of political competition, but opposition candidates competing for seats in the parliament and city councils complain the odds are being stacked against them.