Azerbaijan, Baku, May 29 / Trend E. Kosolapova/
The court sentenced the police officers of Kazakh Zhanaozen to long terms of imprisonment for abuse of power during the riots in December, Novosti-Kazakhstan reported.
According to the court's decision, the police officers were sentenced to five to seven years in prison with confiscation of the property.
The Deputy Head of the Mangistau region Department of Internal Affairs Kabdygali Utegaliyev, Head of Extremism Combating Department of Regional Department of Internal Affairs Bekzhan Bagdabaev and first deputy head of Zhanaozen's Internal Affairs Office Erlan Bakytkaliuly are among the condemned.
Moreover, the court forbade all condemned police officers to serve in law enforcement bodies for five years.
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 over 80 injured. Buildings and cars were burned and the property of individuals and institutions destroyed. The riots were preceded by many months striking launched by oil companies' employees over dissatisfaction with their wages.