Kazakh activist freed in plea deal

A Kazakhstani activist who faced seven years in jail over his outspoken opposition to neighbouring China has been unexpectedly freed.

Serikjan Bilash, whose activism in defence of Muslim and Turkic minorities in Xinjiang earned him global media attention, told AFP he struck a plea bargain.

“I had to end my activism against China. It was that or seven years in jail. I had no choice,” Mr Bilash said.