Altynbek Sarsenbayev

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Altynbek Sarsenbayev (Kazakh: Алтынбек Сәрсенбаев; or Алтынбек Сәрсенбайұлы; [Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly]; 1962 - February 13, 2006) 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 (True Bright Path) party.

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

Soon after his decision to contest the December 2005 Kazakhstan presidential elections, Sarsenbayev 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.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Murder investigation

On 22 February 2006 five officers of Kazakhstan's KNB security service, and specifically the elite Arystan combat division, were arrested for involvement in Sarsenbaev's murder. According to Interior Minister Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov the five men were paid $25,000 for committing the murder. Nartay Dutbayev, the chief national security officer in the government, resigned on 23 February, the day after his subordinates were arrested.^[1]

Police arrested a sixth man, a former law enforcement officer, as a suspect for organizing the operation.