Altynbek Sarsenbayuly

Who was Altynbek Sarsenbayuly?

Altynbek Sarsenbaev served in the Government of Kazakhstan before becoming a political opposition leader. At the time of his death, he served as co-chairman of the opposition Naghyz Ak Zhol party.

In 2003, after a long career in senior Kazakh government positions, including Mayor of Almaty, Information Minister and Kazakhstani ambassador to Russia, Sarsenbayuly joined the opposition ranks in protest against what he regarded as the administration's authoritarian policies.

Soon after his decision to contest the December 2005 Kazakhstan presidential elections, Sarsenbayuly faced government intimidation tactics, including a physical assault by unidentified individuals during a presidential campaign meeting with voters and the alleged beating of his two nephews in November 2005.