Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has pardoned Mukhtar Abliyazov, a leader of the opposition Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement and former energy, industry, and trade minister. Abliyazov was sentenced in July to six years\' imprisonment on charges of abuse of office and financial mismanagement. He requested a presidential pardon in April. The Kazakh opposition insists the charges against Abliyazov were politically motivated, pointing out that they were made not long after he took part in the founding of DVK. Opposition leaders have repeatedly demanded his release, along with that of former Pavlodar Oblast Governor Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov, also a DVK founder who was convicted on similar charges. Zhaqiyanov has refused to ask for a presidential pardon. (RFE/RL)