Azerbaijan, Baku, March 24 /Trend E. Kosolapova/
Some 400 Kazakh oppositionists rallied in Kazakh city of Almaty on Saturday on the occasion of hundred days' anniversary since the riots in Zhanaozen, Novosti-Kazakhstan reported.
The unauthorized rally lasted for about an hour, as the local police did not try to prevent it.
The rally's participants urged the International community to take part in the independent investigation of the events in Kazakh Zhanaozen, where at least 14 people were killed and dozens were injured in late 2011 in the riots.
One of the opposition protesters Ramazan Yesergepov read out the resolution to the leadership of the OSCE, the UN, the Organization of Islamic Conference and the U.S. State Department.
The rally's participants asked the international community to give a principled assessment of the Kazakh authorities' actions in Zhanaozen and recognize the new law on National security reinforcing security measures as not complying with international standards.
Moreover, the protesters called on the world community to participate in an independent international investigation of Zhanaozen events, recognize the opposition activists Vladimir Kozlov and Serik Sapargali as political prisoners and demand to release them and stop the prosecution of all riots organizers.
Mass riots hit the Kazakh oil city of Zhanaozen in Mangystau region on Dec.16. According to the Kazakh General Attorney Office, 14 people were killed as a result and 64 injured by fire. Buildings and cars were burned and the property of individuals and institutions destroyed. A state of emergency was imposed in Zhanaozen from Dec.17 to Jan 30. The riots were preceded by many months striking launched by oil companies' employees over dissatisfaction with their wages.
The main trial on the criminal case against those accused in organizing of the riots in Zhanaozen is scheduled for March 27 and will be held in Aktau.
The next opposition meeting is scheduled for April, 28.
