[RFE/RL] A high-profile trial against alleged Islamist terrorists and their supporters has begun in northwestern Kazakhstan.Preliminary hearings against 29 defendants started in the city of Aqtobe on October 18. Nine of the suspects were charged with terrorism, murder, organizing and taking part in a terrorist group, and illegal possession and use of firearms. Eighteen defendants were charged with failing to report planned terrorist acts. The other two were charged with harboring criminals.
In June, Kazakh authorities said a group of 25 alleged Islamist rebels carried out a string of attacks that killed five civilians and three members of Kazakhstan's security forces in Aqtobe. Security forces killed 18 gunmen and nabbed several others.
President Nursultan Nazarbaev has said the attacks were carried out by Salafis.