Serik Akhmetov's prison term shortened

A Kazakh court has cut the prison term of the former Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov following a mass amnesty marking the 25th anniversary of the country's independence.

A court in the central city of Qaraghandy ruled that Akhmetov's eight-year prison term must be shortened by one year and seven months.

The ruling may pave way for Akhmetov's early release on parole,  RFE/RL reports.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev enacted the amnesty in December 2016 for tens of thousands of people who are behind bars in the Central Asian nation.

Akhmetov, who served as prime minister on September 2012 - April 2014, was sentenced to 10 years in jail in December 2015 on corruption charges. He initially pleaded not guilty. After he pleaded guilty and asked for clemency in 2016, his term was cut by 2 years.