Kazakh opposition activist Aidar Syzdyqov, who was arrested in May on a charge of "selling illegal drugs," launched a hunger strike four days ago, his wife, Aigul Toqpaeva, said on June 18. Syzdyqov has said the case against him is politically motivated. The charges against Syzdyqov were based on a statement by a person who claims he had put money on Syzdyqov's debit card for drugs he allegedly received from him. Syzdyqov has noted that all of his payment cards were blocked after a court in Astana handed him a parole-like three-year sentence in 2021 over links with a banned opposition movement. To read the original story by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service, click here.
