Posted on 11/13/2005 8:21:44 PM PST by Wiz
ALMATY, Kazakhstan - An outspoken critic of President Nursultan Nazarbayev was found shot to death in his home, his family's lawyer said Sunday.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov was found lying face-down by his wife Saturday night, shot twice in the heart and once in the head, said the family lawyer, Serially Musin.
Nurkadilov, 61, fired as emergency situations minister last year after criticizing Nazarbayev, was supporting the opposition candidate in next month's presidential elections in this former Soviet Central Asian nation.
Police chief Moldir Orazalin ruled out any political connection in the death. "We do not consider such a theory," he told reporters.
Nazarbayev ordered an investigation into the death and expressed condolences to the family, describing Nurkadilov as a "prominent statesman," according to a statement.
Orazalin said a revolver belonging to Nurkadilov was found next to his body and that closed-circuit television cameras monitoring Nurkadilov's home compound had not filmed any strangers entering it on Saturday. He said police had not found any traces of intrusion or fight.
Nurkadilov had accused Nazarbayev of authoritarianism and demanded his resignation.
OH JB and hal pinging to this thread
While we wait for someone who knows what he's talking about to enter this thread, I can't help noticing the family lawyer's name, Serially Musin.
Was there a suicide note?
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