Azerbaijan, Baku, Jan.25 /Trend/
Mayor of Zhanaozen, where 16 people were killed and dozens were injured in the result of riots in December, is prosecuted for embezzlement the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan said on Wednesday.
Mass riots hit the Kazakh oil town of Zhanaozen on Dec.16 killing 16 and injuring more than 100 people. Buildings and cars were burned and property of individuals and legal bodies destroyed. Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev declared a state of emergency in Zhanaozen until Jan.31.
According to the Prosecutor General assessments, illegal actions of officials of local executive bodies and heads of oil companies have contributed to social unrest and a prolonged strike by oil workers which grew up in a riot.
"Financial police established that these individuals have been plundering the resources, which were allocated for social and economic support of local people and workers of oil and gas industry, for several years," the statement said.
According to the Prosecutor General, embezzlement committed by former and current mayors of Zhanaozen, Babahanov and Sarbopeev, through the Zhanashyr and Zharylkau public funds.
According to Prosecutor General, sponsorship of KazMunaiGas Exploration Production JSC, designed to provide social support to the population of the city was accumulated in these funds.
"Much of the money was cashed and misappropriated. These officials and leaders of the funds are prosecuted," the prosecutor said.