ZHANAOZEN — 2011 · Suspicious Death
The Zhanaozen Events
From May 2011 oil workers in Zhanaozen had been striking over pay and working conditions; the state oil company fired about a thousand of them, and workers kept up their protest in the town square for months. On 16 December 2011, during Independence Day celebrations, police and security forces opened fire on demonstrators. According to official figures at least 14 people were killed and 86 injured, while some sources claimed a higher toll. A state of emergency was declared in the town. In subsequent trials many protesters and opposition figures received heavy sentences while only a few police officers were tried; allegations of torture raised in court drew international concern.
- Date
- 2011
- Place
- Mangystau Region, Kazakhstan, Zhanaozen, KZ
- Category
- Suspicious Death
- Case Status
- Closed
- Coordinates
- 43.3410, 52.8610 ↗
Timeline of Events
- May 2011Oil workers went on strike; about a thousand were fired.
- 16 December 2011Security forces fired on protesters; at least 14 died.
- December 2011A state of emergency was declared in the town.
- 2012Torture allegations surfaced at the protesters' trial.
- 2012An opposition leader was sentenced to 7.5 years.
Sources
- BBC News — Kazakh oil strike: 10 dead in Zhanaozen clashes bbc.co.uk ↗
- BBC News — Abuse claims swamp Kazakh oil riot trial bbc.co.uk ↗
- RFE/RL — A year after deadly riots, Zhanaozen is quiet but angry rferl.org ↗
- BBC News
- RFE/RL
- Wikipedia
Source grade A: several independent sources, at least one an official record or reference work. If you spot a mistake or something missing, report it with "Suggest a correction" in the app.
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🕯️ This record was prepared with respect, in memory of those who lost their lives.