Kazakhstan: 10 people accused of slaying of opposition leader go on trial

The closely watched trial opened with lawyers on both sides arguing that the case be moved from the remote town of Taldykorgan to the commercial capital Almaty. Opposition parties have accused authorities of holding the trial in Taldykorgan to minimize public attention.

Photo: Kazakhstan: 10 people accused of slaying of opposition leader go on trial

Kazakhstan: 10 people accused of slaying of opposition leader go on trial

The Feb. 11 killing of Altynbek Sarsenbayev, a 43-year-old former government minister and ambassador to Russia, and Senate administration chief Erzhan Utembayev's alleged involvement in the murder has roiled politics in the Central Asian nation.

Serikkali Musin, a lawyer for Sarsenbayev's family, said the trial must be held in Almaty because the crime was investigated there. Lawyers for Utembayev argued that most of the defendants live in Almaty, the opposition said.

Sarsenbayev was the second prominent critic of President Nursultan Nazarbayev to be killed in three months.

Prosecutors allege that Utembayev masterminded the killing of Sarsenbayev because of his comments to the media that Utembayev may have abused alcohol. The opposition says the murder was political and alleges authorities are covering up for the real perpetrators, the AP reports.

Authorities earlier said all 10 defendants, including five security officers, had confessed to the charges.