Zhanaozen policemen promise to quit if their colleagues are convicted

Zhanaozen. Photo by Renat Tashkinbayev©

Zhanaozen policemen are ready to quit if their three colleagues are convicted for abuse of power during clashes on December 16, KazTAG reports citing Lada magazine. “Several policemen of Zhanaozen town, where clashes took place on December 16, are ready to quit their jobs in the police if their three colleagues are convicted of abuse of power,” the city magazine writes. Over 30 policemen have been injured in the clashes, some of them very severely, the edition adds. “The attackers from the crowd were using iron sticks, batons, bottles with flammable liquids and even firearms. Zhanaozen superintendant Amanzhol Kabylov showed those weapons to the journalists later. He also showed the titanium police shields peppered with bullets,” the magazine writes. Clashes happened in Zhanaozen on December 16. Riots in Shetpe village were followed on December 17. According to Kazakhstan prosecutors, 17 people died during clashes in Zhanaozen and Shetpe. According to the Interior Ministry, 40 active participants and organizers of Zhanaozen clashes have been identified, 18 of them have been arrested. Besides, 10 people have been arrested in relation to the Shetpe clashes. 35 police officers applied to hospitals with different injuries on December 16-18. State of emergency was announced in Zhanaozen until January 5, 2012 and then prolonged to January 31, 2012.

Zhanaozen policemen are ready to quit if their three colleagues are convicted for abuse of power during clashes on December 16, KazTAG reports citing Lada magazine. “Several policemen of Zhanaozen town, where clashes took place on December 16, are ready to quit their jobs in the police if their three colleagues are convicted of abuse of power,” the city magazine writes. Over 30 policemen have been injured in the clashes, some of them very severely, the edition adds. “The attackers from the crowd were using iron sticks, batons, bottles with flammable liquids and even firearms. Zhanaozen superintendant Amanzhol Kabylov showed those weapons to the journalists later. He also showed the titanium police shields peppered with bullets,” the magazine writes. Clashes happened in Zhanaozen on December 16. Riots in Shetpe village were followed on December 17. According to Kazakhstan prosecutors, 17 people died during clashes in Zhanaozen and Shetpe. According to the Interior Ministry, 40 active participants and organizers of Zhanaozen clashes have been identified, 18 of them have been arrested. Besides, 10 people have been arrested in relation to the Shetpe clashes. 35 police officers applied to hospitals with different injuries on December 16-18. State of emergency was announced in Zhanaozen until January 5, 2012 and then prolonged to January 31, 2012.

Zhanaozen unrest Police news Kazakhstan Kazakh