1. The Kazakhstani political prisoners
19 activists and journalists will celebrate Independence Day in detention, having been incarcerated on politically motivated charges. Kazakhstani activists are serving prison terms for their civil society activities and participation in peaceful rallies. They include: Maks Bokayev, Talgat Ayan, Aron Atabek, Sanat Bukenov, Edige Batyrov, Makhambet Abzhan. In addition, Almat Zhumagulov and Kenzhebek Abishev are being held in the detention facility. Trade union activists Amin Eleusinov and Nurbek Kushakbayev have been put in prison for their trade union activity. Following the closure of all influential non-state media, the Kazakhstani authorities intensified the persecution of individual journalists: Aset Matayev and Yaroslav Golyshkin are currently in prison. Bloggers Sanat Dosov, Ruslan Ginatullin, Igor Chuprina, Igor Sichev were sentenced to imprisonment for their own posts and sharing other people’s posts on social media. While in prison, Mukhtar Dzhakishev, Muratkhan Tokmadi and Iskander Yerimbetov, victims of the criminal prosecution against the Kazakhstani opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, are being subjected to torture. Kazakhstan’s authorities are ignoring the UN’s demands to release Maks Bokayev, Talgat Ayan and Mukhtar Dzhakishev.


















2. Politically motivated prosecution in Kazakhstan: people who received suspended sentences
Apart from political prisoners, approx. ten people were sentenced to suspended sentences based on politically motivated charges. The suspended sentences include a ban on engaging in the civil society or journalistic activities. Oppressive articles of the new Criminal Code of Kazakhstan are used against representatives of the civil society. They include: ‘inciting social and ethnic discord’, ‘libel’, ‘dissemination of knowingly false information’, ‘violation of the order of organising rallies’, and others. Among others, civil society activists: Olesya Khalabuzar, Alima Abdirova, Bolatbek Blyalov; trade union activist Larisa Kharkova; journalists: Zhanbolat Mamay, Gyuzal Baydalinova, Amangeldy Batyrbekov and Bigeldy Gabdullin, received suspended sentences. The criminal prosecution against activist Marat Dauletbayev continues.








3. Punitive psychiatry in Kazakhstan
In the fight against dissent, Kazakhstan’s authorities are increasingly frequently using punitive psychiatry. Activists file complaints with law enforcement agencies. In response, the authorities initiate criminal proceedings against the complainants themselves and forcibly send them for a psychiatric examination in order to examine whether they suffer from ‘delusional disorder’. Apparently, the Kazakhstani authorities believe that only the ‘insane’ can complain about the actions of the authorities and fight for their rights. Since October 2016, civil society activist Natalia Ulasik has been forcibly held in a mental hospital. Doctors say that this is not necessary, but the court considers their findings ‘inconclusive’ and keeps extending the compulsory treatment of Ulasik. Counsel Zinaida Mukhortova was held in various mental hospitals for more than a year. She was released in December 2014 after repeated appeals from the UN and human rights organisations. Mukhortova is still obliged to report in the mental hospital every month. She cannot engage in professional activities.

4. Kazakhstan misuses the mechanisms of Interpol and international legal assistance
Kazakhstan misuses the mechanisms of Interpol, extradition and international legal assistance. By doing so, the Kazakhstani authorities are striving to lay hands on their opponents abroad. On the basis of Kazakhstan’s extradition request, opposition journalist Zhanara Akhmetova was arrested in Ukraine. In November, the court released her from custody, which became possible due to the efforts of human rights organisations, MPs and the international community. Kazakhstan has intensified its ‘hunt’ for former colleagues of the opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, whom Nazarbayev regards as his personal enemy. Due to the fact that France and other EU states recognised the case of Ablyazov as political, Kazakhstan decided to increase the number of criminal charges against him and his former colleagues. To this end, Kazakhstani investigators have been using threats, torture, exerting pressure on their counsels, and harassing their relatives. In particular, Kazakhstani authorities are striving to bring about the extradition of Mukhtar Ablyazov’s former colleagues, such as: Anatoliy Pogorelov, Tatiana Paraskevich, Viktor Khrapunov, Leila Khrapunova, Ilyas Khrapunov and others.




