Kazakhstan gives life sentences to seven over Aktobe terror attack

PanARMENIAN.Net - Seven were handed Monday, November 28 life sentences for terrorism in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, court ruled, according to AKIpress.

The judge of the specialized inter-district criminal court of Aktobe region delivered a verdict in one of the most high-profile terrorism trials in Kazakhstan - Aktobe attack of June 5. The hearings were held on Monday in closed mode for safety reasons.

At the previous hearings, public prosecutor asked to sentence seven of the defendants to life in prison.

Zhanabai Kuanyshbayev, Bakyt Kuanyshbayev, Alibek Akpanbetov, Arsen Tanatarov, Askhat Rakhmetov, Anuar Sadikhov, and Askhat Imangaliyev were found guilty of terrorism and handed life in prison and all of their properties will be confiscated.

Another defendant Azamat Abdrakhmanov has been sentenced to 20 years in prison with confiscation of property; Aidos Zhubanov - 22 years in a strict regime colony. They were found guilty of committing grave and especially grave crimes against persons, property, and public security and order.

The defendants went on trial in late October.

On June 5, a group of armed men attacked two gun shops and a military unit in Aktobe killing 3 civilians and 3 soldiers. The city declared a counter-terrorism operation regime. During the manhunt for the suspects, policemen killed 18 attackers, while some remained at large. The operation ended on June 12 as all the suspected Islamists were caught.

The city government changed the "red" level of terrorist threat in Aktobe city to an elevated "yellow" one, which is in effect throughout Kazakhstan until January 15, 2017.

In late September, Artem Gorlayev, director of the Pallada gun shop attacked by the terrorists, was sentenced to 1 year in a colony for violation of the rules of storage of weapons.