The opposition Coordinating Council of Democratic Forces issued a statement on 5 January denouncing a lawsuit by the Almaty Prosecutor\'s Office seeking the closure of the opposition political party Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK). The statement described the case against DVK and recent tax charges against the Soros-Kazakhstan Foundation as \"politically motivated and coordinated from a single center.\" Prosecutors are seeking the dissolution of DVK for incitement to civil disobedience; the next hearing in the case is scheduled for 6 January. The Coordinating Council stated that the authorities aim to \"define any criticism of the regime as incitement to social discord.\" The statement concluded, \"[This policy] not only runs counter to [the authorities\'] official intention to carry out \'further democratization,\' but also strengthens political opposition in society.\" (Interfax-Kazakhstan)