Kazakhstan:  surrender of technological sovereignty to Russia & China and a further assault on civil society and liberties

Kazakhstan: surrender of technological sovereignty to Russia & China and a further assault on civil society and liberties

On 3 September 2021, within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Askar Mamin and head of the Russian SBER group of companies (SBER) German Gref [German Gref, the head of SBER, has been close to Putin since his work in St-Petersburg. Gref was mentioned in the Pandora papers scandal with his offshores in Singapore, Panama and Samoa] signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Digital Transformation Projects for the Republic of Kazakhstan, Transition to the Platform-Based Digitalisation Model and the Data Driven Government Concept. The Memorandum was approved by the Decree of the Government of Kazakhstan on the same day. Pursuant to the Memorandum, SBER will create, implement and support a single centralised digital platform (GovTech) for all electronic state services in Kazakhstan to replace Kazakhstan’s existing e-government platforms (united by the website – https://egov.kz/cms/en). As of today, over 80% of state services are available on egov.kz. 

Online event: “Targeted Sanctions as a Tool to Safeguard Human Rights. The EU Legal Framework and National Initiatives”

Online event: “Targeted Sanctions as a Tool to Safeguard Human Rights. The EU Legal Framework and National Initiatives”

On 15 April 2021, ODF co-hosted an online conference on the new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime and the effectiveness of personal (targeted) sanctions in safeguarding human rights. The event was co-organised in partnership with the Italian Federation for Human Rights, the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Freedom Kazakhstan Foundation and the Global Committee for […]

“Authoritarian countermeasures to targeted sanctions” – an online discussion with HRDs & MEPs

“Authoritarian countermeasures to targeted sanctions” – an online discussion with HRDs & MEPs

On 21 June 2021 the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF), together with the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU), organized the online panel “Authoritarian countermeasures to targeted sanctions: China’s and other autocratic responses”. Hosted by ODF President Lyudmyla Kozlovska, the event gathered human rights defenders and an MEP affected by China’s countermeasures to discuss the reactions […]

Invitation to an online event — Authoritarian countermeasures to targeted sanctions: China’s and other autocratic responses

Invitation to an online event — Authoritarian countermeasures to targeted sanctions: China’s and other autocratic responses

The Open Dialogue Foundation, the Italian Federation for Human Rights and Freedom Kazakhstan Foundation invite you to attend the online event “Authoritarian countermeasures to targeted sanctions: China’s and other autocratic responses”. On Monday, 21 June 2021, our distinguished guests will gather to discuss Russia’s and China’s countermeasures in response to the EU’s first designations under the new EU Global […]

Invitation to an online event: “Targeted sanctions: a tool to safeguard human rights”

Invitation to an online event: “Targeted sanctions: a tool to safeguard human rights”

The Open Dialogue Foundation, the Italian Federation for Human Rights,  the Crimean Tatar Resource Center, Freedom Kazakhstan Foundation & the Global Committee for the Rule of Law invite you to attend the online event “TARGETED SANCTIONS: A TOOL TO SAFEGUARD HUMAN RIGHTS. THE EU FRAMEWORK AND NATIONAL INITIATIVES IN EUROPE AND OVERSEAS” Thursday, 15 April 2021, 14:00 […]

Voices of Kazakhstan #1: pre-election review of human rights situation

Voices of Kazakhstan #1: pre-election review of human rights situation

With the parliamentary election in Kazakhstan looming large, the authorities are trying to ruthlessly silence any voice of dissent. Since June 2020, we have observed a significant deterioration of the human rights situation in the country – the latest figures show at least 28 political prisoners and 95 cases of ongoing political persecutions. Now, just a month before the January 10 elections, the regime is using Chinese technology to attempt to cut the citizens off from the internet and social networks, which provide the only alternate source of reliable information and the only channel through which citizens can report electoral fraud. Simultaneously, the Central Election Commission has just imposed further draconian restrictions on election observers’ rights that amount to a de facto ban on their participation altogether. The authorities also rushed to ban online donations for NGOs. Meanwhile, Kazakhstan plays a deceptive game with the international community by inviting – to only a limited number of polling stations – ODIHR international observers.

ODF and FIDU addresses the Italian Senate on the impact of COVID-19 on human rights

ODF and FIDU addresses the Italian Senate on the impact of COVID-19 on human rights

The Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) and Federazione Italiana Diritti Umani (FIDU) are back on track after the lockdown with a real-life press conference “The Authoritarian Epidemic: Safeguarding Human Rights in Times of COVID-19”. The conference was held on 29 July 2020, at Sala Caduti di Nassirya of the Italian Senate, in Rome, Italy.

“The Toll of COVID-19 on Human Rights” – a joint report by ODF and FIDU

“The Toll of COVID-19 on Human Rights” – a joint report by ODF and FIDU

The coronavirus outbreak has been labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. As of 22 June 2020, the WHO had reported cases of COVID-19 in more than 216 countries and more than 8,844,171 people infected worldwide. The scale and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic clearly rises to the level […]

ODF’s policy paper on Central Asia published by the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

ODF’s policy paper on Central Asia published by the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies

The Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies, the think tank of the EPP, has just published a new research paper entitled “EU Human Rights Promotion in Central Asia – Between the Dragon and the Bear”, written by ODF’s analysts Igor Savchenko, Kateryna Savchenko and Andriy Osavoliuk. The research paper consists of six sections, tackling a wide range of topics, from the promotion of human rights in Central Asia from the EU’s security perspective, to China and Russia’s influence in the region, including an analysis of how Central Asian regimes have progressively adopted human rights violations from Russia and China.

“Are there any threats to Ukraine from China and how can they be minimised?” – discussion in Kyiv

“Are there any threats to Ukraine from China and how can they be minimised?” – discussion in Kyiv

On 11 December 2019 in Kyiv, within the framework of the IV National Human Rights Non-Conference, a discussion was held on the topic: “Are there any threats to Ukraine from China and how can they be minimised?”. The event was organised by the Open Dialogue Foundation in collaboration with the Ukrainian Free Hong Kong Centre, the Qaharman Human Rights Initiative (Kazakhstan) and the Human Rights Agenda. The discussion was moderated by human rights defender Maksym Sytnikov (Open Dialogue Foundation).

China’s Contribution to Human Rights Abuse in Kazakhstan: Event at the EP

China’s Contribution to Human Rights Abuse in Kazakhstan: Event at the EP

Over the past years, China has increased its presence in Kazakhstan, thus making their economic and political relations more robust. Importantly, human rights and the survival of civil society are at stake, as Kazakhstani activists are afraid of the growing dependence onChina, a country which has been often perceived as a bearer of abuse and […]

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