Osservatorio Diritti, an Italian media outlet dedicated to human rights and human rights defenders worldwide, has published an analysis of Kazakhstan’s mismanagement of the pandemic from the perspective of civil society. The article features interviews with Paola Gaffurini, Advocacy Officer at the Open Dialogue Foundation, Dana Zhanay, Kazakhstani human rights defender and co-founder of Qaharman […]
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.
Upon the initiative of the Italian Senator Roberto Rampi
the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) and the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF)
invite you to the press conference “The Authoritarian Epidemic: Safeguarding Human Rights in Times of COVID-19”.
The coronavirus infection COVID-19 has become a challenge not only for healthcare systems, economics, social policy and public administration in most countries of the world, but also to human rights. Human rights have been especially threatened in authoritarian states, including Kazakhstan.
This morning, 4 July 2020, Iskander Yerimbetov, Kazakhstani political prisoner released on 30 December of last year, arrived at the Geneva Airport, Switzerland, after he was granted a humanitarian visa. ODF, the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) and his family warmly welcomed him at the airport, congratulating Iskander for this long-awaited day. This is […]
The coronavirus outbreak was 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.
On June 22-23th, our Maksym Sytnikov addressed the issue of violations of freedom of expression and media in Kazakhstan, calling the OSCE bodies to respond to cases of censorship. The intervention took place during the second Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM).
On May 25-26th, our Maksym Sytnikov and Katarzyna Szczypska, addressed the issues of ethnic tensions and ethnic discrimination in Kazakhstan and state-sponsored hatred by the public media in Poland at the Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting (SHDM).
On May 26, 2020, seven MEPs addressed Ukrainian President Zelensky, Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova and the Head of the State Migration Service Maksym Sokoliuk with an appeal demanding the reevaluation of Zhanara Akhmetova’s asylum application and halting her extradition. Ms Akhmetova – a Kazakhstani journalist and oppositionist – and her 12-year-old son risk deportation from Ukraine as a consequence of the Supreme Court’s decision on May 14, 2020, which overturned its previous instance and rejected her asylum application.
A prominent Kazakhstani journalist and opposition activist Zhanara Akhmetova could be illegally extradited from Ukraine to Kazakhstan at any time. According to our sources, the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine is already preparing to place her under extradition arrest. On 19 May 2020, Akhmetova got a decision by the Supreme Court of Ukraine depriving her of the chance to be granted asylum. The decision was adopted in haste during the quarantine. It was also adopted without taking into account the arguments of Akhmetova’s lawyers.
On May 14, 2020, the decision to grant asylum to a prominent Kazakhstani journalist and oppositionist, Zhanara Akhmetova, and her 12-year-old son, was reversed by the Supreme Court of Ukraine, acting as a last instance court. Akhmetova is one of the leaders of the country’s biggest opposition movement “Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan”.
On May 14, 2020, the Supreme Court of Ukraine, acting as a last instance court, reversed the decision of the previous instance and declined to grant asylum to a prominent Kazakhstani journalist and oppositionist, Zhanara Akhmetova. The hearing was held without the presence of Akhmetova’s attorney. Akhmetova can be extradited to Kazakhstan anytime. If extradited, she faces torture and unfair trial. With all avenues for appeal having been formally exhausted, it is only the international community that can block the unlawful expulsion.
As the government of Kazakhstan prepares to receive US$800,000 of additional assistance from the U.S. to cope with the COVID-19 crisis, President Tokayev continues to repress fundamental freedoms unabated.
On March 19th 2020 a Kazakhstani political prisoner and a torture victim, Mukhtar Dzhakishev, has been released from prison. On March 3th, 2020, a court in Semey (Kazakhstan) ruled to free him on parole and under probation supervision. The decision came as a surprise since all previous release requests were rejected. During the past decade, Dzhakishev was denied the right to a fair and public trial, the right to defence, and the right to humane treatment, while the deterioration of his health was reported by international observers.
Famous Kazakhstani film director and public figure Bolat Atabayev is in serious condition at a clinic in Munich. For many years, Bolat Atabayev has been suffering from diabetes, and his kidney failure has worsened recently. Last week, the director went through several expensive surgeries. His condition is still severe and financial support is required to cover expensive treatment and rehabilitation.
On the 20th February 2020, on the occasion of the 19th Winter Meeting of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, together with the members of the Dutch Delegation, Farah Karimi and Boris Dittrich, we had the pleasure of hosting the side-event “New and Old Ways of Suppressing Dissent in the OSCE Area: Protecting Political Refugees from Legal and Technological Abuse”.
On 17 February 2020, we arranged a visit of Kazakhstani human rights defenders, Bota Jardemalie and Dana Zhanay, to the European Parliament in order to attend an exchange of views with DCAS members on the situation of human rights in Kazakhstan prior to the 17th EU – Kazakhstan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee (PCC) meeting in Nur-Sultan on 25-27 February. The roundtable discussion provided a rich exchange of views between the MEPs and members of civil society and NGOs.
This report provides an analysis of Kazakhstan’s implementation of the European Parliament Resolution of 14 March 2019 on the human rights situation in the country (2019/2610(RSP).
On February 6-7, 2020, a delegation of the Open Dialogue Foundation went on a two-days mission to Rome with the aim to relaunch the draft bill for an Italian Magnitsky Law, following a series of events in the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate on the matter
We have recently learned of an event held in the European Parliament on January 23rd, 2020, organised by the “EU Today” website. The event’s title, “NGOs: between public good and bad governance”, would suggest the event covered an interesting and important topic, the functioning of NGOs in the EU. Unfortunately, as we’ve learned from one of the unlucky participants of the event, this title was just disguise for another action by “EU Today” founder, former UKIP employee, far-right racist and Holocaust denier, Gary Cartwright, aiming to discredit ODF and our work, specifically in Kazakhstan.
This report examines the cases of 56 victims of politically motivated criminal prosecutions in Kazakhstan. Among them, at least 16 are political prisoners who remain in prisons or pre-trial detention facilities.
Zhanara Akhmetova is a Kazakhstani journalist, one of the leaders of the opposition movement “Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan” (DCK). For several years, Akhmetova and her minor son have been unsuccessfully seeking refugee status and, through this, political asylum in Ukraine.
We have learned with great relief of the release of Kazakhstani political prisoner Iskander Yerimbetov.
Members of the Italian Senate and the Italian Chamber of Deputies forwarded a letter to the Belgian Prime Minister, demonstrating their concern and outrage with the situation faced by Jardemalie in Belgium.
In case of the extradition of Akhmetova, Ukraine would violate several ratified international conventions. For the new government, this case would become one of the first serious exams in the observation of the rights of refugees and extradition procedures. Will the new authorities of Ukraine pass the test in the cooperation with dictatorial regimes?
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).
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 […]
On 6 November 2019, Members of the Federal Parliament of Belgium’s asked questions to the Minister of Justice Koen Geens, during a Justice Committee hearing. Five parliamentarians asked questions regarding the controversial judicial cooperation between Belgium and Kazakhstan.
On October 1, 2019, at Kazakhstan’s mutual assistance request, Belgian police conducted a warrantless search (sic!) of Kazakh political refugee and lawyer, Botagoz Jardemalie’s apartment in Brussels. The officials seized numerous electronic devices and documents, which included privileged and confidential work relating to her advocacy as a human rights lawyer. One of the most worrying […]
In the present document, the Open Dialogue Foundation, the Italian Federation for Human Rights, the Arrested Lawyers Initiative, the Human Rights Defenders e.V. and the Kharkiv Institute for Social Research attempt to fill the gaps in the PACE report and propose recommendations with respect to improving cooperation among the member states of the Council of Europe in the sphere of extradition.
Open Dialogue Foundation and the Italian Federation for Human Rights are pleased to invite you to an event co-hosted by MEPs Nacho Sanchez Amor (S&D; Spain) and Niklas Nienaß (Greens/EFA; Germany).
This report examines the cases of 39 individuals who are currently subject to politically motivated criminal prosecution in Kazakhstan. Among them, 21 are political prisoners who remain in prisons or pre-trial detention facilities.
Iskander Yerimbetov, Kazakhstani political prisoner and the brother of political refugee Botagoz Jardemalie, has been suffering from critical health condition in a Kazakhstani detention facility. His lawyers and family members reported that his health has deteriorated to a critical state.
During the last PACE Autumn session (30-4 October), together with the Center for Civil Liberties (CCL) and the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) we had the pleasure to host: Oleg Sentsov, Ukrainian filmmaker recently released from Russian custody; Kazakhstani human rights defenders Bota Jar
We defend human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We stepped on the toes of many authoritarian and hybrid regimes which currently conduct targeted propaganda and disinformation campaigns against us. Would you like to form your own opinion? Find out what we have done so far.
Between Monday 16 and Friday 27 September 2019, representatives of the Open Dialogue Foundation Xheni Dani, Joanna Cuper and Maksym Sytnikov participated in the annual OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting held in Warsaw. Our representatives delivered several statements in which they raised is
Oleg Sentsov, former political prisoner gave his first speech abroad, in Berlin, after being released from Russian prison on September 7. To this purpose, on September 26, Frank Schwabe MP and Manuel Sarazzin MP welcomed Sentsov and our delegation to a parliamentary event at the Bundestag.
On Wednesday 18 September, the Italian Federation for Human Rights and the Open Dialogue Foundation co-organised a side event entitled “Suppressing Civil Society in China: Role Model for OSCE Authoritarian Members?”
In light of the statement by Mr Usen Suleimen on 16 September 2019 during Working Session 1, attempting to dismiss the serious human rights violations in Kazakhstan by defaming our foundation, we would like to briefly reply to Mr Suleimen’s deeply offensive accusations.
During the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, ODF will be in Warsaw with a delegation of human rights defenders and activists. The first event will take place on Wednesday 18 at 8:15 in Meeting Room 1.
The court did not consider it necessary to take into account the fact of having already served more than two thirds of the sentence, nor the lack of penalties, the disability of the 3rd group and the deteriorating state of health of the prisoner.
The Open Dialogue Foundation has managed to gather the names of 136 police officers, investigators, security officers, prosecutors and judges who participated in politically motivated prosecutions of peaceful protesters.
The adoption of the so-called “Magnitsky Act”, in Italy and at the European Union level, and the possible developments of its implementation have been discussed at a conference recently hosted by the Chamber of Deputies.
On 6 July 2019, rallies were planned in various cities of Kazakhstan to demand that the results of the presidential election be cancelled and Nazarbayev be deprived of power, as well as against Chinese expansion. Law enforcement agencies detained about 700 peaceful protesters in different places.
On July 24, in Rome, ODF and FIDU organised an event under the title “Human Rights protection and sanctions: towards a Global Magnitsky Act”. The event took place at the conference room of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament and was hosted by Deputy Lia Quartapelle (Democratic Party).
On July 24, in Rome, ODF and FIDU organised an event under the title “Human Rights protection and sanctions: towards a Global Magnitsky Act”. The event took place at the conference room of the Chamber of Deputies of the Italian Parliament and was hosted by Deputy Lia Quartapelle (Democratic Party).
On July 4th, in occasion of the 28th OSCE PA Annual Session, the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) and the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) organised a side-event on post-elections scenarios in Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan at the premises of the European Convention Centre in Luxembourg. Th
Seventeen US senators wrote a letter of concern to Kazakh President Tokayev calling for the release of political prisoner Iskander Yerimbetov. The July 29 letter is a bipartisan initiative by senators Marco Rubio and Robert Menendez, with other signatories including Bernie Sanders and Tim Kaine.
On September 20, 2018, Aktau City Court Judge Oralbay Nagashibaev sentenced Dzhumaev to three years’ imprisonment for participating in the Telegram chat of the banned peaceful opposition movement DCK. The court found him guilty of “incitement to hatred” and “calls for a
On June 25, 2019, upon the initiative of PACE Member Roberto Rampi (Italy; SOC), the Open Dialogue Foundation and the Italian Federation for Human Rights hosted the side-event “Post-elections scenarios in Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan. Between political uncertainty and regime consolidation”.
A representative of the Open Dialogue Foundation Maksym Sytnikov participated in the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting held in Vienna on 15-16.07.2019.
The Summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe took place between June 24 and June 28, in Strasbourg. On this occasion, 32 members from various national delegations (eg. Italy, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal and others) signed the Written Declaration no. 682.
The ODF kicked off the summer season with a visit to Washington D.C. between the 12th and the 14th of June 2019. An ODF delegation joined Jared Genser (with his team) and Zhamilya Yerimbetova for a three-day mission in the capital.
The Open Dialogue Foundation monitors cases of persecution during peaceful protests in Kazakhstan. This article contains the lists of persons detained and convicted from 1 May to 12 June 2019. The lists were compiled based on information from the Facebook group #IHaveAChoice #ActivistsNotExtremists.
On the occasion of the 28th OSCE PA Annual Session, ODF and FIDU are pleased to invite you to a side-event on post-elections scenarios in Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan, on Thursday, 4 July 2019, from 12:30 to 14.30, room E (Level 1), at the premises of the European Convention Centre in Luxembourg.
Nazarbayev’s protege Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev expectedly won the presidential elections in Kazakhstan. The elections were fully controlled and constituted merely an imitation of the electoral process. A lack of trust in the election results is not only due to the lack of legislative conditions for fair
This side-event is aimed at bringing together CSOs and Members of PACE who took part in election and human rights observation missions, with the goal to discuss the current situation and attitude of the new and old ruling elites towards the challenges of the future.
On 19 March 2019, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who served as President for 30 years, resigned. According to the law, his position was taken by the head of the upper house of parliament – the Senate – Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev.
On 19.03.2019, Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned as Kazakhstan’s President. As prescribed by law, he was succeeded by the head of the upper chamber of Parliament – the Senate – Kasym-Jomart Tokayev. On 09.04.2019, Tokayev announced snap presidential elections to take place on 09.06.2019. Campaigning
On the occasion of snap Presidential election in Kazakhstan announced for June 9, the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) has listed a set of recommendations on the human rights record in Kazakhstan for the EU, OSCE PA and foreign missions on the ground.
In the run-up to the extraordinary presidential election in Kazakhstan, a wave of protests has risen, demanding a fair and transparent expression of will. In many towns and cities, peaceful actions have taken place and participants have been arbitrarily detained.
On Thursday 28 March, 2019, ODF, FIDU, the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) and the EU–Russian Expert Group on Combating Transborder Corruption organised an international conference on the application of the Magnitsky law, at the premises of the Italian Senate.
On Thursday 28 March, 2019, FIDU, ODF, the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty (NRPTT) and the EU–Russian Expert Group on Combating Transborder Corruption organised an international conference on the application of the Magnitsky law, at the premises of the Italian Senate.
On the occasion of the PACE Spring session 2019, the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) and the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) organised a side-event on the Magnitsky legislation at the premises of the Council of Europe, Palais.
On the occasion of the PACE Spring session 2019, the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) and the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) organised a side-event on the Magnitsky legislation at the premises of the Council of Europe, Palais.
During the Spring session of the PACE, 22 members signed a written declaration under the title “Magnitsky laws sanctions must be imposed in response to political prosecution in Kazakhstan” tabled by André Gattolin, the French senator and member of the French delegation to the Council of Europe
The Open Dialogue Foundation and the Italian Federation for Human Rights are pleased to invite you to a side-event on the application of the Magnitsky law, which will be held on Tuesday, 9 April 2019, from 13.00 to 14.00, room 14 (ground floor), at the premises of the Council of Europe, Palais.
ODF, FIDU and KHISR present this Submission with recommendations within the framework of the consideration of the UPR of Kazakhstan. Over more than nine years, ODF has presented expert opinion on human rights in Kazakhstan, obtaining information from first hand and in-country experience.
Following a debate during the Plenary session of March 14, the European Parliament voted on a resolution taking stock of the human rights situation in Kazakhstan, urging national authorities to “put an end to human rights abuses and all forms of political repression”.
On 15 March 2019, it became known that the State Migration Service of Ukraine had refused to grant refugee status to an opposition blogger from Kazakhstan, Ardak Ashim. On the same day, it became known that the Ukrainian Migration Service had again refused to grant asylum to Kazakhstani opposition j
On 18 March 2019, in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a round table took place on the subject of “Persecution and violation of the rights of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.”
On 18 March 2019, in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a round table took place on the subject of “Persecution and violation of the rights of Ukrainian citizens on the territory of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.”
In February 2019, mass peaceful protests, unprecedented in their scale and nature of demands, were held in different regions of Kazakhstan. Protesters complained of poverty and corruption, demanding reforms, improvement of social security and the resignation of the President.
Last Tuesday, on February 19th, a group of Members of EP constituted by Ana Gomes, Barbara Lochbihler, Mady Delvaux-Stehres, Tunne Kelam, Elmar Brok, Patricia Lalonde, Brando Benifei and Julie Ward, addressed a letter to Federica Mogherini, concerning the removal of judge from office in Kazakhstan.
In international law, there is an unconditional ban on the extradition of persons to countries where they may find themselves at risk of torture and ill-treatment. Extradition requests issued on the basis of politically motivated prosecutions are also illegal.
The Aktau City Court acquitted the victim of political prosecution, Aigul Akberdiyeva, after which the Chairman of the Court, Malik Kenzhaliyev, was dismissed. Kenzhaliyev said that a special services officer tried to hit him with a car.
The European Parliament’s Human Rights Subcommittee has recently released a report it has commissioned, entitled “Misuse of Interpol’s Red Notices and impact on human rights – recent developments”. Yesterday, the study was officially presented at the subcommittee’s meeting.
On 19 February in Brussels, the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the EP hosted a hearing on “Attacks on the legal profession and lawyers defending human rights”. The event was chaired by MEP A. Panzeri and touched on the pressing issue of the threats to the threats to the legal profession worldwide.
On 19 February in Brussels, the Subcommittee on Human Rights of the EP hosted a hearing on “Attacks on the legal profession and lawyers defending human rights”. The event was chaired by MEP A. Panzeri and touched on the pressing issue of the threats to the threats to the legal profession worldwide.
During the 2019 Winter Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, PACE members touched upon various different issues of global interest, from problems of objectivity to media freedom and legal tools to enable the Council of Europe’s governments to adopt sanctions programmes.
Chairman of the Aktau City Court, Malik Kenzhaliyev, was removed from office after passing an acquittal in the case of Aigul Akberdiyeva. The authorities of Kazakhstan make it clear that they will immediately punish those judges who dare to issue independent decisions in politically motivated cases
In July 2018 in Strasbourg, to Europarliament deputies, Elena Semenova recounted facts of mass torture in places of confinement in Kazakhstan. Upon her return to the motherland, a criminal case was initiated against the human rights advocate for “spreading knowingly false information”.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has considered information about violations during the criminal prosecution of Iskander Yerimbetov. The UN concluded that Yerimbetov’s detention and arrest were arbitrary, and that criminal prosecution and trial were accompanied by gross violations
The Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) organised a human rights observer mission to Kazakhstan. A series of meetings with activists, human rights defenders, relatives of political prisoners, and former prisoners who had been subjected to torture, was conducted in the course of the mission.
Human rights violations and politically motivated persecution continue in Kazakhstan. It is high time the EU raised its voice in opposition!
In an attempt to prevent a reduction in the volume of foreign investment in the country’s economy, and to maintain its positive international image, the authorities of Kazakhstan are being forced to make individual concessions in the cases of political prisoners.
On 8 November 2018, the US Mission to the OSCE made an official statement on the case of Iskander Yerimbetov: “The United States is concerned by allegations of mistreatment while in custody and procedural irregularities in the trial of Kazakhstani businessman Iskander Yerimbetov”
This report is a collective complaint on behalf of 129 citizens of Kazakhstan who have fallen victim to arbitrary detention, criminal prosecution, torture, ill-treatment, threats and surveillance. All were accused of supporting the peaceful opposition movement “Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan”.
On 9 October 2018, over 150 Kazakhstani representatives of human rights organisations and Kazakhstani citizens signed an open letter to Ambassador T. Greminger, General Secretary of the OSCE, in view of his visit to Astana to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of the OSCE office in Kazakhstan.
Between Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 September 2018, the ODF conducted an advocacy mission in Warsaw at the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting, a forum aimed at providing a platform for dialogue between NGOs and the representatives of OSCE Member States.
Following the expulsion of Lyudmyla Kozlovska, the President of the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF), from Poland, large pro-government media, from the Polish Radio to ‘Gazeta Polska’, were quoting Kazakhstani, Moldovan and Ukrainian media in their coverages.
Within the framework of the OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting 2018 in Warsaw, the Open Dialog Foundation will hold a side event entitled “Defence for the Defenders: lawyers and attorneys under attack for participation in politically motivated cases in the post-Soviet area”.
Due to the failure to provide necessary and timely medical assistance, Kazakhstani political prisoner Muratbek Tungishbayev has lost vision in one eye. He needs urgent hospitalisation.
Between Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 July, 2018 in Rome a delegation of human rights defenders of the ODF and the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU) took part in a series of meetings and seminars with Italian lawmakers, journalists and members of Italian National Forensics Council (CNF).
Mady Delvaux, Member of the European Parliament, who met Kazakhstani human rights defender Elena Semenova in the European Parliament in early July, demands an end to her political prosecution.
On 20 July, 2018, in Pavlodar, three police officers detained the well-known human rights activist Elena Semenova at her home. She managed to write an SMS to her colleagues saying: “I’m being taken to the Department of Internal Affairs. They came for me” .
On 12 July 2018, eight MEPs signed an open letter addressed to President Nazarbayev decrying the human rights situation in Kazakhstan. MEPs J. Stetina, P. Austrevicius, T. Kelam, W. Klinz, A. Gomes, H. Hautala, V. Mazuronis and J. Nart denounced the reduction of the space for civil liberties.
On the occasion of the Annual Session of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly held in Berlin between 7 and 11 July 2018, a delegation of human rights and civil activists led by ODF presented their reports and made their appeals to members of different national delegations.
In the news section of the 28th issue of “Les Droits de l’Homme en Europe Orientale et dans l’Espace post-sovietique”, the Journal of the French Human Rights League (LDH) includes an article written by the Open Dialog Foundation concerning the situation of human rights in authoritarian countries.
On Thursday 19 July 2018, the Open Dialog Foundation (ODF) and the Italian Federation for Human Rights (FIDU), together with the Italian Senator Mr Roberto Rampi, will host a press conference entitled “In defense of civil liberties. Testimonies from Russia, Moldova and Kazakhstan”.
Civil society activists from Kazakhstan and Russia who are seeking political asylum in Ukraine, have faced secret surveillance and threats from unidentified persons. The activists claim that Kazakhstan’s special services are involved in this matter.
On the occasion of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), a delegation of civil society activists from Poland and the Open Dialog Foundation (ODF) held a series of bilateral meetings with PACE Members and Permanent Representations to the Organisation.
On the occasion of the summer session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), a delegation of civil society activists from Poland and the Open Dialog Foundation (ODF) held a series of bilateral meetings with PACE Members and Permanent Representations to the Organisation.
During the summer session of PACE, twenty-two members signed a written declaration, deploring the use of torture in detention facilities and the lack of investigation related to this systemic practice in Kazakhstan, as well as the severe violations of the right to peaceful assembly.
Between the 25 and 27 June, 2018, a delegation of lawyers, a judge and human rights defenders from Moldova, Russia, Kazakhstan, Italy, Belgium and Turkey, led by the Open Dialog Foundation, participated in the 38th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.
The right to defence is one of the fundamental human rights that is enshrined in a number of international agreements. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaims the principle of equality of all before the law, the presumption of innocence, and the right to be examined openly.
On 25 June, 2018, the Kyrgyz court authorised the extradition of the well-known opposition blogger Muratbek Tungishbayev to Kazakhstan. On 26 June, 2018, late in the evening, security officers took Tungishbayev from the detention centre in an unknown direction.
Please be advised that any video recordings recently posted on the Internet allegedly involving Lyudmyla Kozlovska, associating her with Bill Browder (initiator of the Global Magnitsky Law campaign) and Mukhtar Ablyazov, (leader of the opposition movement “Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan”) are fake.
The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (IOL) recently published two statements expressing its concern for Ana Ursachi and Botagoz Jardemalie, both lawyers and human rights defenders, from Moldova and Kazakhstan, respectively.
The ODF and the Italian Federation for Human Rights, with the valued support of the Nonviolent Radical Party, Transnational and Transparty, are pleased to announce the holding of the third event concerning the persecution of lawyers and international instruments for their protection.
On May 10, 2018, Kyrgyzstani security service officers detained Muratbek Tungishbayev, blogger from Kazakhstan, in Bishkek. He is currently being kept under arrest. Tungishbayev needs urgent eye surgery to save his eyesight. A criminal case has been launched against him in Kazakhstan.
On 23 April 2018, the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) addressed a letter to the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, expressing its concerns over Kazakhstani lawyer and political refugee Botagoz Jardemalie.
Between 17th and 18th of May representatives of the Open Dialog Foundation held a series of meetings with German politicians in the Bundestag.
Between 17th and 18th of May representatives of the Open Dialog Foundation held a series of meetings with German politicians in the Bundestag.
On 15 May 2018, a press conference – co-organised by ODF and FIDU – was held at the premises of the Brussels Press Club. On this occasion, the delegation composed of Antonio Stango and Marcin Święcicki, presented an exclusive report on the recent human rights monitoring mission to Kazakhstan.
On 15 May 2018, a press conference – co-organised by ODF and the Italian Federation for Human Rights – was held at the premises of the Brussels Press Club. On this occasion, the delegation composed of Antonio Stango and Marcin Święcicki, presented a report on the recent human rights… (read more)
On 10 May 2018, in Kazakhstan, the police dispersed peaceful protesters with the use of brute force. Participants in the protests were striving to draw the attention of the delegation of the EP to the problem of political prisoners and the practice of torture in the country’s detention centres.
![PACE members urge Kazakhstan to “respect the freedom of speech [and] the freedom of peaceful assembly” and to “stop blocking social media sites”](http://en.odfoundation.eu/content/uploads/i/articles/8628_mid.jpg)
During the last Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Spring session, on 25 April 2018, twenty-nine members signed a written declaration, expressing their “serious concern” about the ongoing attacks on civil liberties in Kazakhstan and calling for “cessation of blocking social media
On the occasion of the Spring session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a delegation of human rights defenders and civil society experts were present in Strasbourg between Monday 23 and Wednesday 25 April, 2018
Thus far, more than 38 cases of politically motivated criminal prosecution have been registered in Kazakhstan. Of these, 24 political prisoners are being held in prisons and detention facilities, or even (in two cases) in mental hospitals.
On March 21, MEP Tomáš Zdechovský submitted a written question to the EU VP/HR on the arbitrary detention and use of torture taking place in Kazakhstan. This comes after an appeal submitted to president Nazarbayev by seven MEPs who expressed their concern about the current situation of human rights.
“Over the years, the authorities have cleaned out the opposition political field so thoroughly that now anyone who is trying to interfere or show his dissatisfaction with the situation and criticise the authorities is considered a destabilising factor, if not an ‘enemy of the people’”.
The Kazakhstani court has banned the activities of the new opposition movement ‘Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan’. The slightest support of the DCK has been penalised with prison terms.
Between 1 and 2 March, 2018, a delegation of defenders from the Open Dialog Foundation met in Geneva on the occasion of the 37th session of the UN Human Rights Council.
Mr Josè Ignacio Sanchez Amor, Chair of the General Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, signed two letters on Friday 23 February 2018, one addressed to the President of Kazakhstan, Mr Nazarbayev
The Kazakhstani political prisoner Mukhtar Dzhakishev is suffering from life-threatening diseases – he is now at risk of stroke and heart attack. The latest examinations have revealed impaired brain function. Dzhakishev stays in bed almost all the time.
In February 2018, two events on the topic of the persecution of lawyers were held at the premises of the European Parliament in Brussels (Tuesday, 20 February 2018) and at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting in Vienna (Friday, 23 February 2018)
Persecution of lawyers: selected cases from Moldova, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan
Under the guise of a discussion on ‘financial fraud’, an information attack was launched against the Open Dialog Foundation in the European Parliament. The smear campaign against our organisation has become a revenge for our activities to protect human rights in the post-Soviet space… (read more)
The Open Dialog Foundation is glad to invite you to an event on the topic of the persecution and protection of lawyers, which will be held on Friday 23 February 2018, from 12:30 to 14:00, room 531 at the premises of the Hofburg Congress Centre, Vienna.
Businessman Iskander Yerimbetov has become another victim of the criminal case against the Kazakhstani opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov. Yerimbetov is the brother of Botagoz Jardemalie, Ablyazov’s lawyer, who has been granted political asylum in Belgium.
1. Introduction In April 2017, opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, along with his associates, announced the resumption of the activities of the ‘Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan’ (DCK) movement. The previous DCK movement was banned by a Kazakhstani court on charges of ‘extremism’ in 2005. According to Ablyazov, 32,000 people joined the DCK in 2007. In authoritarian […]
The Open Dialog Foundation is glad to invite you to an event on the topic of the persecution and protection of lawyers, which will be held on Tuesday 20 February 2018, from 15:30 to 17:00, room: A5G305; at the premises of the European Parliament – Brussels.
During the last PACE Winter session, on 25 January 2018, twenty-four members signed a written declaration to urge the authorities of Kazakhstan to abide by the country’s international commitments under the International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights, ratified by Kazakhstan in 2005.
The work of a lawyer in the Eastern European member countries of the Council of Europe is fraught with many risks: murders and attempted assassinations, criminal prosecution, pressure on relatives, illegal searches, attempts to withhold an attorney’s license, and slanderous media campaigns.
On December 13, 2017, a group of MEPs signed a letter addressed directly to the highest authorities of the Republic of Kazakhstan, raising their concern about the situation of human rights and individual cases of politically motivated prosecutions, and demanding that the case of Mr Is… (read more)
On 11 December 2017, miners of four mines in the city of Shakhtinsk, Karaganda Province, refused to return to the surface and announced the beginning of a protest action. They put forward a number of demands, the main of which is a 100% increase in salaries.
16 December is Kazakhstan’s Independence Day. However, this date is also known as the anniversary of the Zhanaozen shooting: six years ago, at least 17 striking oilmen died from police bullets. Since then, this day has been associated with the oppression of the civil society in Kazakhstan.
On 16 December 2017, we will witness the 6th anniversary of the Zhanaozen massacre. A few days before the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Kazakhstan is going to be debated and voted. It is an opportunity for us all to once again raise the issue of political prisoner
Businessman Iskander Yerimbetov has become another victim of the criminal case against the Kazakhstani opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov. Yerimbetov is the brother of Botagoz Jardemalie, Ablyazov’s lawyer who has been granted political asylum in Belgium.
On November 13, 2017, MEPs submitted two written questions to the EU VP/HR on the politically motivated prosecutions taking place in Kazakhstan. This comes after MEPs, on October 19, addressed letters to the Kazakhstani state authorities, demanding the release of several political prisoners
When arriving in Ukraine, political refugees do not leave their problems behind; on the contrary, they face new ones.
On 22 November 2017, at 2:00 p.m., the Kyiv Appellate Court will consider Zhanara Akhmetova’s appeal against her extradition arrest. Kazakhstani opposition journalist Zhanara Akhmetova was arrested in Kyiv at the request of Kazakhstan.
On 12 October, 2017 the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy adopted a report by Axel Fischer (Germany, EPP/CD) “The relations of the Council of Europe with Kazakhstan”
Kazakhstani opposition journalist Zhanara Akhmetova was detained in Kiev on 21 October 2017 with gross violations of the Ukrainian legislation. On 24 October 2017, the court ruled on her temporary arrest for 18 days. In protest against the decision, Akhmetova went on a hunger strike.
The European Union has issued its Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy in the World in 2016, with a country-by-country analysis and a summary of the current and future actions and priorities of the EU in protecting human rights.
Kazakhstan put the journalist Zhanara Akhmetova on the wanted list on the basis of a court judgement which had already become effective; according to her counsels, it is illegal. The Migration Service of Ukraine refused to grant refugee status to Akhmetova.
On the 11th of October, 2017, Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) signed a joint letter of concern addressed to the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, over the unlawful detention of two political prisoners: Mukhtar Dzhakishev and Muratkhan Tokmadi.
On 24 October 2017, the President of the Open Dialogue Foundation Lyudmyla Kozlovska spoke in Hromadske TV about how the international system for the exchange of information on criminals had become a repressive mechanism and how authoritarian states use the Interpol to their advantage.
Between September and October, a delegation from the Open Dialog Foundation visited the European Parliament and the PACE to address the human rights situation and the issue of political prisoners in Moldova and Kazakhstan, as well as the recent violations of civil liberties in Poland.
On 11 October, 2017, 26 Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) signed a written declaration calling for the immediate cessation of political oppression, injustice and torture in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On 11 October, 2017, Members of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) addressed the Secretary of Interpol, Mr Jürgen Stock, and the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) in a bid to warn against abusive use of the international arrest warrant.
In modern Kazakhstan, activists and journalists receive prison terms for civil and trade union activities, for public criticism of the authorities, for participating in peaceful rallies, for publishing and sharing posts on social networks, and for conducting journalistic investigations.
The battle over fugitive billionaire Mukhtar Ablyazov stretches from Kazakhstan to Knightsbridge
Non-democratic states continue to issue international arrest warrants for dissidents, journalists and political opponents. The fact that the problem is continuing to be present means that regimes adapt their conducts and ultimately the new reforms do not catch up with the reality.
On the occasion of the OSCE HDIM 2017, the Open Dialog Foundation held an expert seminar “Human Rights and Political Persecution in Russia, Ukraine, Moldova and Kazakhstan” in Warsaw on 21 September 2017. This discussion was our last side event during HDIM 2017.
The Open Dialog Foundation, in partnership with Destination Justice held a debate “Reform of the INTERPOL: don’t let it be stopped halfway” in Warsaw on 15 September 2017, at the premises of the National Stadium (PGE Narodowy) on the occasion of the OSCE HDIM2017.
The Open Dialog Foundation, in partnership with Destination Justice held a debate “Reform of the INTERPOL: don’t let it be stopped halfway” in Warsaw on 15 September 2017, at the premises of the National Stadium (PGE Narodowy) on the occasion of the OSCE HDIM2017.
Mukhtar Dzhakishev’s serious chronic diseases have become more advanced. He is in a need of urgent hospitalisation. Serving time in one of the harshest penal facilities in Kazakhstan, Dzhakishev is not receiving the necessary medical care
The issue of abusive Red Notices has become topical once again in the media, after Turkey issued an Interpol arrest warrant to detain a German writer in Spain, Mr Doğan Akhanlı. In an article published by an Italian newspaper, ‘L’Opinione delle Libertà’, it takes the example of the Turkish dissident
In two letters addressed to the Secretary of INTERPOL, Mr Jürgen Stock and the Commission for the Control of INTERPOL’s Files (CCF), Members of the Polish Parliament, Mr Marcin Święcicki and Mrs Kornelia Wróblewska expressed their concern over individual cases.
MPs Mr Marcin Święcicki (Platforma Obywatelska) and Mrs Kornelia Wróblewska (Nowoczesna Ryszarda Petru) addressed the Minister of Justice of Hungary in respect to the extradition of a Kazakh citizen, Mr Yerzhan Kadesov, who fell victim of politically motivated prosecution of Mr Mukhtar Ablyazov.
Members of the Polish Parliament, Mr Marcin Święcicki and Mrs Kornelia Wróblewska, urged Kazakhstani government to terminate unlawful practices against Mr Murakthan Tokmadi, Kazakh prominent businessman, arrested on 12 June, 2017, under questionable criminal charges.
In Spain, more Turkish dissidents fall victim to the abuse by Ankara of INTERPOL mechanisms. Increasingly frequently, Turkish authorities accuse their critics of criminal offences and demand their extradition. In Granada, upon a request from Turkish authorities, the writer Dogan Akhanli was arrested
On 24 July 2017, a former BTA Bank employee, Yerzhan Kadesov was extradited from Hungary to Kazakhstan. The information was announced by the Anti-Corruption Agency in Kazakhstan on 10 August 2017.
Through the use of torture, the NSC is forcing Tokmadi to give false testimony confirming that 13 years ago, he ‘committed murder’ ‘at the instruction’ of opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov
The General Secretariat of the International Criminal Police Organization certified that the names of the Kazakh opposition politicians Mukhtar Ablyazov and Muratbek Ketebayev, as well as Ablyazov’s associates Tatiana Paraskevich and Alexandr Pavlov were deleted from the INTERPOL’s databases.
The extradition of Yerzhan Kadesov – how it is being carried out
Yerzhan Kadesov is a former employee of BTA Bank; currently, he is facing extradition from Hungary. Mr. Kadesov is accused within the framework of the criminal case, carried out against the Kazakhstani opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov (the case of BTA Bank).
On 27 June, 2017, Members of PACE from across the political spectrum and different states addressed the Secretary of Interpol and the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files in a joint letter concerning the widespread abuses of Interpol system by Russia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Azerbaijan.
Between Tuesday 11 and Wednesday 12 July, 2017, the Open Dialog Foundation met in Rome with representatives of NGOs and members of the Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies. The 2-days visit was an opportunity to discuss individual cases of victims of abusive Red Notices.
Strategic cooperation between the Council of Europe and Kazakhstan in the field of criminal and constitutional justice, human rights and democratic citizenship has so far been an essential monitoring tool in bringing Kazakhstani institutions in line with European standards.
Between 12 and 14 June, 2017, a delegation of the Open Dialog Foundation and Destination Justice was present at the 35th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The aim of the visit was to discuss the current human rights and political situation in Moldova and Kazakhstan.
Between 12 and 14 June, 2017, a delegation of the Open Dialog Foundation and Destination Justice was present at the 35th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. The aim of the visit was to discuss the current human rights and political situation in Moldova and Kazakhstan.
Non-democratic states carry out political persecution through the Interpol system. Both human rights NGOs and intergovernmental organisations have been working on this problem for several years. Finally, the reform of Interpol got underway.
On Wednesday, 26 April, 2017, experts, politicians, NGOs and victims of abusive Red Notices gathered at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to assess current improvements and challenges of INTERPOL’s system and provide recommendations on reforms of INTERPOL.
In September 2016, Leonidas Donskis, a Lithuanian MEP, philosopher, essayist and academic teacher died prematurely. The article, devoted to him by Portal 15min, includes the reminiscences of him by President of the Open Dialog Foundation Lyudmyla Kozlovska.
Members of the EP Mrs Julie Ward, Mrs Marju Lauristin, Mr Tomáš Zdechovský and Mr Tunne Kelam have addressed in a joint letter the Commission for the Control of Interpol’s Files (CCF) and Secretary General of Interpol concerning the abuse of international arrest warrants by Kazakhstani authorities.
As Members of the EP; we would like to raise with you the issue of worrying wave of repression, mass arrests, detentions and criminal prosecutions carried out by the Kazakh authorities against representatives of the civil society, activists, counsels, journalists and opposition voices in the country
Mrs Balli Marzec recently addressed the ODF and MEPs with whom we met during the Strasbourg week in February, 2017, via an email with the subject “True opposition have nothing in common with Ablyazov”.
Between 23 and 24 February, 2017, a representative of the Open Dialog Foundation was present at the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Winter Meeting 2017 in Vienna. The aim of the visit was to discuss the current human rights and political situation in the post-Soviet region.
Zhanbolat Mamay refused to give ‘self-incriminating testimony’ on the case of BTA Bank. After that he was beaten in detention centre and was threatened with reprisal. Zhanbolat Mamay has become yet another victim of the criminal case against the opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov.
Between 14 and 16 February, 2017, a delegation of the Open Dialog Foundation was present at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The aim of the visit was to discuss the current human rights, political and economic situation in Kazakhstan.
Between 14 and 16 February, 2017, a delegation of the Open Dialog Foundation was present at a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The aim of the visit was to discuss the current human rights, political and economic situation in Kazakhstan.
On February 11, 2017, chief editor of the opposition newspaper ‘Tribuna’, Zhanbolat Mamay, was arrested. The Kazakhstani authorities have labelled him a ‘member of Mukhtar Ablyazov’s criminal group’. The charges against the journalist are based on the testimony of the refugee Zhaksylyk Zharimbetov,.
France recognised the political nature of the prosecution of Mukhtar Ablyazov, a longtime opponent of Nursultan Nazarbayev. The need to obtain ‘additional testimonies’ against Ablyazov led to the intensification of a ‘hunt’ for former top managers of BTA Bank.
On 21 January, 2017 Turkish special services along with Kazakhstan special services took Zhaksylyk Zharimbetov, colleague of Kazakh opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, out from Turkey to an unknown destination. Zharimbetov was granted refugee status in Great Britain.
The Kazakhstani regime, and, in particular, President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s lobbyists have done everything in their power to make the first meeting with the opposition politician particularly memorable.
The Kazakhstani regime, and, in particular, President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s lobbyists have done everything in their power to make the first meeting with the opposition politician particularly memorable.
As the Open Dialog Foundation, we would like to thank you for your support during the past year and wish you all the best in your professional and personal life in 2017! On this occasion we would like also to share with you some of the ODF’s top achievements of the year 2016.
On 9 December 2016, France’s State Council (Conseil d’Etat) rejected Russia’s request for the extradition of the Kazakh opposition politician and businessman Mukhtar Ablyazov. The request for Ablyazov’s extradition was recognised as politically motivated.
Through illegal extraditions and violations of the rights of refugees, the Ukrainian authorities contribute towards the political persecution by Moldova, Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Belarus.
Breaking news: France has refused to extradite Mukhtar Ablyazov to Russia and Ukraine. The decision of the French Conseil d’Etat is final. He is going to leave the arrest after 3 years.
According to this year’s Human Freedom Index 2016 survey measuring widely understood personal and economic liberty, Eastern Europe is departing faster and faster from the western part of the continent.
On 28 November, 2016, a Kazakh court sentenced activists Maks Bokayev and Talgat Ayan to five years in prison. The court also banned them for three years from engaging in social activities and ordered them to pay 530,250 tenge (approximately 1,500 euros).
We call upon the Czech authorities to defend Tatiana Paraskevich who has been exposed to persecution as a part of politically motivated case and now faces new threats.
The Kazakh authorities have detained more than 1,000 and arrested more than 30 protesters. Several activists, who, via social networks, expressed their intention to attend rallies faced criminal charges of ‘attempting to seize power’, ‘inciting social and national hatred’.
On 10-14 October 2016, during the 4th plenary session of the PACE, a world-wide #StopPutinsWarInUkraine action will take place and photos of political prisoners and histories of their persecution will be published on social media within the #LetMyPeopleGo campaign.
In the last years, considerable criticism arose over the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), which used to be excessively passive in the wake of a growing trend of misuse of its mechanisms by authoritarian states.
(Translation from Russian) Supreme Public Prosecutor, of the Czech Republic, Pavel Zeman Jezuitská 4, Brno, CZ-660 55 Czech Republic, [email protected]; Head of Department for Asylum and Migration Policy of the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic, Tomáš Haišman 21/ОАМ, Nad Štolou, 3, Praha 7, CZ-170 34 [email protected]; [email protected]; Minister of Justice of the Czech […]
Vladimir Kozlov, Kazakh dissident, released from prison last month, after almost five years spent behind bars, wrote a letter to the Open Dialog Foundation. In the letter, he calls ODF activists his friends and thanks them for their dedication in fighting for his freedom.
Kazakhstan exerts illegal and political influence on Ukraine and Russia in the framework of the criminal case against Mukhtar Ablyazov and Tatiana Paraskevich. The Czech Republic refused to extradite Paraskevich, however, Ukraine and Russia re-submitted similar requests for her extradition.
Representatives of the Foundation follow and attend the most important sessions and meetings of the international organizations and institutions in Brussels, Strasbourg, Vienna and Geneva.
Vladimir Kozlov, Kazakh dissident and leader of the biggest opposition party “Alga” was released from prison after nearly five years spent behind bars.
On 4 August, 2016, the Kapshagai City Court of Almaty Province ordered the conditional release of opposition politician Vladimir Kozlov. The court decision will come into force in 15 days.
On 28 June, 2016, the court in Vilnius handed down the ruling denying the requests of Kazakhstan and Ukraine regarding the extradition of Syrym Shalabayev who is a relative of the Kazakh opposition politician and political refugee, Mukhtar Ablyazov.
Geneva 23 June 2016 – On 22 and 23 June 2016 the UNHRC – the body that monitors the implementation of the rights enshrined in the ICCPR – reviewed for the second time since Kazakhstan is a party to the ICCPR the status of civil and political rights in the country.
On 22-23 June 2016, the UN Human Rights Committee will consider the implementation of Kazakhstan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In April 2015, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights initiated consultations on the development of recommendations, aimed at creating of a favourable environment for civil society’s activities.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe’s (PACE) Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, held a hearing in Rome on 18 May 2016, dedicated to the topic of the misuse of Interpol by non-democratic states and the need for more stringent legal safeguards.
Open Dialog Foundation calls on to urgently react to the wave of arrests of Kazakhstan activists, and make every effort to prevent violence against citizens during peaceful rally planned for the 21 May, 2016 in several Kazakhstan cities.
As early as in 2014 the Czech Republic granted to Tatiana Paraskevich subsidiary protection, refusing to extradite her to Ukraine or Russia. However, in 2016, Ukraine and Russia almost simultaneously issued identical requests for Paraskevich’s extradition.
On 30 March, 2016, Jean-Claude Juncker met with Nursultan Nazarbayev – a dictator, who has single-handedly governed Kazakhstan for over 25 years. The President of the European Commission stated that his ‘good friend’ Nazarbayev was ‘sensitive’ to the problems of human rights.
On Thursday 10 March, 2016, during the European Parliament’s plenary session in Strasbourg, a debate on freedom of expression in Kazakhstan was held. After the discussion, an urgent resolution was adopted.
The participant in high-profile corruption scandals Vladimir Guzyr prepared a statement on the ‘validity’ and ‘legality’ of the request for Syrym Shalabayev’s extradition.
French media outlet Mediapart, founded by a former Le Monde editor, Edwy Plenel, has published an article on the case of Mukhtar Ablyazov. Mediapart, famous for its investigative journalism, described how Kazakhstan had influenced the legal proceedings in France.
In line with an agreement made between Putin and Nazarbayev, investigators from the ‘Magnitsky List’ and representatives of Kazakhstan demanded that Paraskevich and Trofimov sign incriminating testimonies against opposition politician, Ablyazov.
On Thursday, 25 February 2016, the Open Dialog Foundation and the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty organised a working lunch dedicated to the topic of persecution of independent media and political opposition in Central Asia.
Syrym Shalabayev, a relative of the Kazakh opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, is accused in the criminal case concerning the ‘embezzlement of funds of BTA Bank’. Human rights organisations have underlined the political context of the case.
The Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK) was the largest opposition movement in Kazakhstan of the past 25 years. The story of the DCK serves as a perfect illustration of the core issues of the Kazakh authoritarian regime.
On Tuesday, 26 January 2016, the Open Dialog Foundation and the Estonian Member of the European Parliament Mrs Marju Lauristin (Socialists and Democrats) organised a high-level working breakfast at the European Parliament in Brussels dedicated to the topic of media freedom in Kazakhstan.
On Tuesday, 26 January 2016, the Open Dialog Foundation and the Estonian Member of the European Parliament Mrs Marju Lauristin (Socialists and Democrats) organised a high-level working breakfast at the European Parliament in Brussels dedicated to the topic of media freedom in Kazakhstan.
On 14 January, 2016, MP Yegor Sobolev urged the General Prosecutor’s Office to carefully examine publicised incidents of abuse by Ukrainian investigators in the cases against Kazakh opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov and his relative Syrym Shalabayev.
Kazakhstan demands that administrations of social networks disclose personal data of independent journalists, bloggers and political opponents. In retaliation for criticism, the authorities bring criminal charges of ‘spreading false information’ against inconvenient journalists.
On behalf of the Open Dialog Foundation, non-governmental human rights organisation, we would like to congratulate you on your election as the new UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Journalists of the online portal ‘Nakanune.kz’ Guzal Baidalinova and Rafael Balgin have been taken into custody and placed under arrest for 2 months. Their colleague, Yulia Kozlova is also facing arrest. The journalists are being prosecuted under Art. 274 of the Criminal Code of the Kazakhstan.
On 18 December 2015, police raided the editorial office of the online portal ‘Nakanune.kz’ as well as apartments of the journalists: Gyuzyal Baidalinova, Yulia Kozlova and Rafael Balgin. The journalists may face charges of ‘spreading false information’.
Four years ago, on 16 December, 2011, in the Kazakh city of Zhanaozen, riot police opened fire with live ammunition on the backs of unarmed oil workers, who had been protesting for higher wages and better working conditions for seven months.
While rejecting criticism from the international community, Kazakhstan is tightening its grip on civil society. However, a desire to preserve its image forces authorities to resort to making some concessions in the cases of political prisoners.
A video interview between a Kazakh blogger and activist, Galym Ageleuov, and Vladimir Kozlov has recently been published online. At the beginning of August, the leader of Kazakh opposition celebrated his 55th birthday. Fourth in a row spent behind bars.
12 Oct 2015 – The French government has decided to extradite Mukhtar Ablyazov, Kazakh dissident and key representative of political opposition to longtime Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, to Russia.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls signed a decree on September 17, ordering the extradition to Russia of Kazakh dissident Mukhtar Ablyazov.
We wish to draw your attention to the alarming fact of the prosecution of the relative of a Kazakh oppositionist in a case which is overtly characterised by political context.
Syrym Shalabayev, a relative of the Kazakh opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, requests that Lithuania grants him political asylum and protection against extradition.
Kazakhstan is orchestrating the Ukrainian and Russian investigations in the case of an opposition politician and applies illegal lobbying mechanisms in Europe.
PEN International and the Open Dialog Foundation deplore the current situation of Vladimir Kozlov, a Kazakh journalist, human rights defender and a leader of Alga!, a political opposition party, who is currently serving a seven-and-half-year prison sentence for ‘inciting social discord’.
On 10 August, 2015, the Kazakh opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov celebrated his 55th birthday behind bars. Having been placed in strict conditions of detention, he is subjected to ill-treatment and faces the risk of being transferred to a different, more severe penal colony.
In his latest piece for L’Opinione, Italian on-line magazine on civil freedoms and rights, Domenico Letizia calls Kazakhstan the state of “injustice” and analyses the problem of the continuous use of various repressive methods.
The Kazakh authorities misinform the international community in order to avoid criticism for their persecution of political prisoner V. Kozlov.
In the end of June 2015, the Open Dialog Foundation published a report ’Harassment of civil society in Kazakhstan’. The Foundation’s analyst, Katerina Savchenko, provided answers to some clarifying questions in an interview with a journalist of the Radio Azattyq, Kazis Toguzbayev.
A Kazakhstani political prisoner is being subjected to ill treatment. Vladimir Kozlov has been systematically denied a transfer to milder conditions of detention and release on parole.
The French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has responded to a letter from Maddy Delvaux, currently an MEP, formerly a minister in the governments of prime ministers of Luxembourg Jacques Santer and Jean-Claude Juncker.
The Open Dialog Foundation welcomes the initiative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on consultations regarding the creation of a favourable space for civil society activities and the development of a report with practical recommendations on this matter.
Due to its strategic location and tremendous potential in terms of natural resources, such as oil, natural gas and uranium, Kazakhstan – despite its exacerbating issues surrounding respect for human rights – remains an important partner for European countries.
The Open Dialog Foundation (ODF) is a non-governmental, non-partisan organization established in Poland, in 2009. The statutory objectives of the Foundation include promotion, support and protection of human rights, democracy and rule of law in the post-Soviet area.
I am standing up for Ablyazov, asking that the politically motivated criminal case against him be closed and the Ukrainian extradition request against him be withdrawn.
As an expression of our solidarity with human rights organisations who have published reports, members of the European Parliament and the PACE regarding the case of Ablyazov, we hereby present you with an appeal that you deny the requests for the extradition of the Kazakh opposition politician.
Representatives of the Open Dialog Foundation recorded video material with greetings for the Kazakh opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, who is now imprisoned in France due to requests for his extradition, filed by Ukraine and Russia.
Representatives of the Open Dialog Foundation recorded video material with greetings for the Kazakh opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov, who is now imprisoned in France due to requests for his extradition, filed by Ukraine and Russia.
1. Introduction The political context of the case of Mukhtar Ablyazov has been repeatedly referred to in the statements of human rights organisations, members of the European Parliament and the PACE. Russia and Ukraine are not safe countries for extradition as these countries do not guarantee the right to a fair trial or adequate conditions […]
The current President being the only one promoted in the media, and the absence of any political agenda for Nazarbayev’s puppet opponents – Anna Koj of the Open Dialog Foundation talked about the electoral campaign before the presidential elections in Kazakhstan, in an interview with Radio Radicale.
The Prison Service Committee at the Kazakh Ministry of Internal Affairs has replied to the letter from Marcin Święcicki, MP, concerning the Kazakh dissidents Vadim Kuramshin and Aron Atabek. In their reply, the Kazakh authorities provide an unrealistic vision of idyllic conditions in Kazakh prisons.
Early presidential elections resemble a staged play under the facade of democracy. Uncompetitive elections are a way for Nazarbayev to consolidate autocratic power.
Members of the European Parliament from the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group addressed an inquiry to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, F. Mogherini, concerning the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.
Since his arrest on the basis of a ‘red notice’, Mukhtar Ablyazov has already spent nearly two years in different detention facilities in France. Now, as the extradition trials have come to an end, the fate of the famous Kazakh oppositionist will depend on a decision by the French government.
The MEPs Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, Michał Boni (Poland), Pavel Svoboda, Tomas Zdechovsky (Czech Republic) and Tunne Kelam (Estonia) addressed an appeal to France’s highest authorities in defence of Mukhtar Ablyazov.
Below, we list political opponents, their families and colleagues, persecuted by the Kazakh authorities and president Nursultan Nazarbayev through the misuse of the INTERPOL system in the European Union in the years 2012-2015.
Ingancio Sanchez Amor, addressed a letter to the Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee at the National Assembly of the French Republic, E. Guigou, requesting that it be delivered to all Committee members. In his letter, he appealed to the French government not to extradite the Mukhtar Ablyazov.
Federica Mogherini, replied to a letter from MEPs of the progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) at the European Parliament concerning mass-scale abuse of the system of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) by Kazakh authorities.
Illegal cooperation with the Kazakh authorities discredits the new leadership of the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies
The European External Action Service has replied to a letter from the Open Dialog Foundation addressed, in February 2015, to the High Representative, F. Mogherini
11.03.2015 Muratbek Ketebayev left Spain and went back to Poland, where since December 2013 he has a refugee status. It ended the procedure, through which the regime of Nursultan Nazarbayev tried to obtain Ketebayev’s extradition from Spain to Kazakhstan.
On 11 March, 2015, Members of the European Parliament from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (Social Democrats), intervened in the case of Mr Mukhtar Ablyazov, Kazakh dissident and the main political opponent of the current President of Kazakhstan.
The Open Dialog Foundation appealed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) pointing to the need to reform the international police mechanisms. At the same time, stories of victims of the system, documented in the Foundation’s most recent report, were presented
On 17.02.2015, upon an invitation from the Bar Council in Zaragoza (Spain), Muratbek Ketebayev, Alexandr Pavlov, and Jędrzej Czerep of the Open Dialog Foundation attended the conference on the “Situation of Human Rights in Kazakhstan: Right of Asylum”.
When granting asylum to the associate of the Kazakh political opposition, the Supreme Court of the Kingdom of Spain revealed the ill faith and errors his case had suffered from at the hands of courts and administrative bodies.
On the 24 of February, the media spread information about the death of Rakhat Aliyev, a famous politician who opposed the regime of Nursultan Nazarbayev. He was found dead in an Austrian Josefstadt prison in a solitary cell, where he had moved a few days prior on his own request.
Political refugees become victims of misuse of the Interpol system by authoritarian states.
Rzeczpospolita daily published an article by Izabela Kacprzak and Marcin Pieńkowski about the mass-scale campaign to intimidate people associated with the Open Dialog Foundation.
A pożyteczni.pl programme shown on the TVP Info channel was devoted to the Open Dialog Foundation, during which we talked about the help we provide to refugees from Ukraine and Kazakhstan.
The Italian Foreign Ministry replied to a senator’s interpellation. In December 2014, Senator Luigi Compagna addressed a written inquiry to Italy’s government concerning political prisoners in Kazakhstan, and the situation of Zinaida Mukhortova in particular.
On 2 February 2015, the Open Dialog Foundation addressed an open letter to the Vice-President of the European Commission and High Representative, Federica Mogherini, in order to draw her attention to the critical situation of human rights in Kazakhstan.
Artur Trofimov is accused in a criminal case against Kazakh opposition politician Mukhtar Ablyazov.
The efforts of the Open Dialog Foundation which, in its activities, opposes the use of Interpol by authoritarian countries, standing up in the defence of political refugees and pleading for a reform of Interpol, have not gone unnoticed by Do Rzeczy.
Bolat Atabayev, the Kazakhstani theatre director and opposition activist, has provided evidence of the corrupt cooperation between the General Prosecutor’s Office of Ukraine (GPU) and the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan (GP RK).
Polish MEPs have filed a written inquiry with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy concerning the case of the Kazakh oppositionist Vladimir Kozlov.
The polskieradio.pl portal announced the release from prison of the Kazakh opposition member, Muratbek Ketebayev. The judges recognised the arguments of the Polish Embassy in Madrid, which intervened in Ketebayev’s case.
Members of the European Parliament and the Polish delegation of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group sent a written question to the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Ms Federica Mogherini and the European External Action Service (EEAS) on the curr
The Spanish senator Urko Aiartza has filed a written inquiry concerning the Kazakh activist and oppositionist Muratbek Ketebayev.
Owing to his serious health condition, a man convicted in the Zhanaozen case, Maksat Dosmagambetov, has been transferred from prison to house arrest. He stated that he wasn’taware of his exact diagnosis, as his medical records are stored in the police department.
He had been waiting for an official decision concerning his refugee status for a year. A few days ago he discovered that he could not rely on the Polish authorities for help.
On December 22, 2014, near the building of Presidential Administration, activists of the Open Dialog Foundation and members of the Kazakhstani opposition staged a political performance entitled ‘Poroshenko’s vaccination against the dictatorship virus’.
From Kozlov’s evaluation, written by the head of the colony, in which the dissident is serving his time, it follows that he poses a threat to other inmates. The evaluation, which does not correspond to the truth, was used as an argument for the refusal to change the conditions of his imprisonment.
In Kiev, a photo exhibition was opened to mark the anniversary of the shootings at the peaceful protest in the city of Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan. The exhibition will be open from 12 December, 2014 to 21 December, 2014.
Statements by Kazakh authorities about intolerance of torture and willingness to cooperate with civil society in addressing this issue remain declarative and are not implemented efficiently in practice.
Zinaida Mukhortova’s counsel, Amangeldy Shormanbayev informed the Foundation about the release of the activist from the mental hospital. According to the personnel of the facility, Mukhortova does not require further treatment.
Italian Senator Luigi Compagna filed a written inquiry with the Italian government, regarding political prisoners in Kazakhstan, in particular, the situation of Zinaida Mukhortova.
The chair of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s human rights committee, Isabel Santos (MP, Portugal), spoke on 4 December via telephone with Kazakhstani labor activist Roza Tuletayeva, who was released from prison on 19 November.
In his letter to President of France, Francois Hollande, Member of the Polish Parliament, Tomasz Makowski, called for “a large measure of self-control in cooperation with the Republic of Kazakhstan until the country steps onto the path of respect for human rights and democratic change”.
In a joint statement signed by the representatives of the Open Dialog Foundation, the Centre for Civic Liberties and Centre for Human Rights Information, the activists called on the President of France to cease his assistance in the campaign against democracy being conducted by Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Human Rights Watch: Dear President Hollande, We understand that you will be visiting Kazakhstan on December 5 and 6 to conclude the “Year of Kazakhstan in France” and that during your trip you will meet with President Nursultan Nazarbaev and other senior government officials.
Dear Mr. President! On 5-6 December, 2014, you will visit the Republic of Kazakhstan, where you will hold meetings with Nursultan Nazarbayev.We understand that the national interests of the French Republic and the political interests of the European Union compel you to communicate with government
On Tuesday 2 December, 2014 in Paris, was held a press conference on human rights violations and political repression in Kazakhstan. The event organized by the Open Dialog Foundation and Reporters Without Borders was held in reference to the starting 3-day visit of French President François Hollande
The portal gazeta.pl reported on a protest by refugees and activists from Kazakhstan, which took place in front of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Warsaw on Thursday afternoon.
Together with Mark Feygin, Alma Shalabayeva and Salim Shalabayev, we were protesting in front of the Kazakhstan’s Embassy in Warsaw in defence of political prisoners.
Human rights activists and representatives of the Russian intelligentsia, are anxiously watching the world revert to the era of confrontation between the individual and the dictatorship.
Within the framework of the Universal Periodic Review, the United Nations states pointed to Kazakhstan’s failure to fulfill previous recommendations, as well as the deterioration of the situation with regards to freedom of speech, assembly and religion.
The reformed Kazakh criminal law contains politicised and vague criminal charges, which can be widely and subjectively interpreted by the state in order to oppress opposition activists, journalists and politicians.
One of the leaders of the Zhanaozen strike movement, Roza Tuletayeva, will be granted early release, her daughter, Aliya Tuletayeva, told the Open Dialog Foundation. This decision was made in a cassation court session today. Tuletayeva currently remains in the colony.
Nazarbayev’s recent speech and the Polish business mission to Kazakhstan were discussed at the conference on Monday “Nurly Zol – Path to the Future” by Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to Poland, Jerik Utembayev. Representatives of the Open Dialog Foundation were also present at the Polish Press Agency, PAP.
Ekaterina Kuramshina – the wife of the well-known Kazakh advocate and defender of human rights Vadim Kuramshin – has published a statement addressed, amongst others, to the Open Dialog Foundation.
The criminal case against Mukhtar Dzhakishev was politically motivated and was carried out in gross violation of the fair trial standards. Kazakh authorities did not permit Swiss doctors from the World Organization against Torture to examine him.
The former chess champion and Russian political opposition figure Gary Kasparov having come provide his support to the wife and the daughter of the Kazakh Mukhtar Ablyazov at the Lyon tribunal on October 17, 2014.
The Kazakh authorities should heed calls for greater protection of freedom of expression made by several states during today’s review of its human rights record, PEN International said today.
Since Kazakhstan’s last Universal Periodic Review, the situation regarding human rights has deteriorated. Kazakhstan’s government has failed to implement many of the reform commitments to which it agreed.
On October 7th, Le Monde published the findings of a journalistic investigation conducted by Gerard Davet and Fabrice Lhomme in its article entitled ‘Sale of helicopters to Kazakhstan: investigation reaching Sarkozy’s circles’. This has the hallmarks of a massive scandal, one likely to encompass Sar
Criminal prosecution of Mukhtar Ablyazov is being carried out on the political order of the Kazakh authorities. In cooperation with Ukrainian and Russian investigative authorities, Kazakhstan is striving to bring about the extradition of an opponent of the regime.
Following the refusal to transfer Vladimir Kozlov to a penal colony with less stringent conditions, pressure exerted on him by the administration of the colony has increased.
The Radio Information Agency has published a despatch on the situation in Kazakhstan which cites a representative of the Open Dialog Foundation, Jędrzej Czerep.
Zinaida Mukhortova has been involved in the defence of human rights in Kazakhstan for years. For her activities, the authorities have sent her, for the fourth time, for compulsory psychiatric treatment, even though, in the opinion of independent experts, she is fine.
By persecuting political opponents, the Kazakh authorities openly flout public assurances, given to the international community. Kazakhstan declares that the right to a fair trial will be observed with respect to opposition politicians, journalists and activists.
Vladimir Kozlov was denied a transfer to softer regime conditions due to penalties which he had not been informed of. Roza Tuletayeva was not released on parole, as the court found that she “has not demonstrated that she has embarked on the path of correction”.
A delegation from Kazakhstan’s Prosecutor General’s Office paid a visit to Kiev where, on 9th September, they met the Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine, V. Kasko.
The Open Dialog Foundation contacted the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ashat Daulbaev concerning the case of Andrey Derkunskiy.
The famous Kazakh dissident and poet, Aron Atabek was transferred to a detention facility in Pavlodar, where he was held under intolerable conditions. For his attempts to defend his rights, he was placed in solitary confinement as a “deliberate violator”.
The refusal to release the workers’ rights activist Roza Tuletayeva (who defended the rights of Zhanaozen oil workers) on parole has political motivation behind it.
Human rights activist and lawyer from Balkhash (Karagandy Province), Zinaida Mukhortova, who was forcibly admitted to a psychiatric hospital is no longer administered suspicious injections – reports her sister, Natalya Abent.
On Tuesday, July 29, the Spanish court sanctioned the release of Kazakh oppositionist, Alexandr Pavlov subject to bail conditions.
Russian human rights advocates, including such prominent names as Sergey Kovalev, Lev Ponomarev, Lyudmila Alekseeva, Svetlana Gannushkina, Valeriy Borshchov among others, addressed the EurAsEC leaders demanding attention for the political prisoner Vadim Kuramshin.
On 24 July 2014 the Kazakhstani human right advocate Zinaida Mukhortova was transferred to an ICU. The woman was administered an injection of an unknown substance, after which her condition rapidly deteriorated.
Human rights advocate Vadim Kuramshin, placed in the prison psychiatric hospital, has been diagnosed as mentally healthy. After the diagnosis he should be transferred back to the prison in North Kazakhstan region, where he is serving a sentence.
The president of a Kazakh foundation “National Anti-corruption Committee”, Musagali Duambekov, has been sentenced to one year of imprisonment for “defamation” after the publication of a series of journalistic investigations.
The Internet portal ngo.pl publishes a report on the event organised by the Open Dialog Foundation on the occasion of 74th birthday of the Kazakhstan president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who has been ruling the country with an iron fist for 20 years.
In the lower chamber of the Irish Parliament, a hearing was held on 2 July concerning the Kazakh human rights activist, Vadim Kuramshin.
Kazakh human rights activist, Vadim Kuramshin, ended his 7-day hunger strike on June 8. Kuramshin is serving a 12-year sentence in a maximum-security prison E 164/4 (Sopka Zhaman) in the Northern Kazakhstan region.
The Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan allows the application of the death penalty for two categories of crime: terror attacks entailing loss of life, and capital felonies committed during wartime.
Convicted lawyer Andrey Derkunskiy, who allegedly had evidence to prove his innocence, was found dead in his cell on 22 January, 2014. The cellmate of the deceased, Daniar Tolendinov reported that he had witnessed the authorities of the detention facility cooperating with the murderers.
On June 18 Madrid was the scene for a seminar organised by Reporters Without Borders and the Open Dialog Foundation on repressions against journalists in Kazakhstan. Among the speakers were ODF experts, and Kazakh lawyers, journalists and political activists.
Polish MP, Marcin Święcicki of Platforma Obywatelska (Citizens‘ Platform) addressed an appeal to Ukraine’s authorities urging them to discontinue their relations with the authoritarian regimes of Russia and Kazakhstan concerning the abuse of Interpol systems aimed at persecuting their political oppo
Isabel Santos, the Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions, met today with jailed Kazakhstani opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov at a penal colony outside Almaty.
The Open Dialog Foundation calls on the Prime Minister of Italy, Matteo Renzi, to raise issues related to violations of fundamental rights while on a visit to Kazakhstan later this week.
Kazakhstani human rights advocate Vadim Kuramshin, who is currently serving a 12-year sentence in a penal colony in North Kazakhstan, has gone on hunger strike.
We will not find any concrete answers or an action plan devised for the situation described by the MEP in the reply.
Over the past 1.5 years, independent and opposition media in Kazakhstan have found themselves on the brink of annihilation.
On 20 March, 2014, the Kazakh political prisoner Vladimir Kozlov was transferred from a remote colony in North-Kazakhstan Province to a colony in close proximity to his place of residence in Almaty Province.
For several years, the couple, Aidos and Natalia Sadykov was persecuted in their homeland due to their journalistic activities. They were forced to leave Kazakhstan, as Natalia faced imprisonment for libel.
Due to several penalties imposed on human rights defender, Vadim Kuramshin and possible further provocations, he may be refused a transfer to a more lenient ‘general regime’ within his penal colony.
Against the backdrop of the closure of independent media and the oppression of journalists, the ‘Amansaulyk’ foundation and a film production centre ‘Rakurs’, despite their small budgets, were among the few organisations which supported the work of human rights defenders and independent journalists
Through the law firm ‘Ilyashev and Partners, the Kazakh party submitted to Ukrainian investigators information and personal data of accused parties; written criminal charges and requests for extradition;
The well-known Kazakhstan dissident and poet as well as political prisoner Aron Atabek has been behind bars for over six years now. For a number of years, he has been kept in a solitary confinement cell in oneof the most rigid regime prisons of the country.
67-year-old pastor, Bakhtyzhan Kashkumbayev, who has health problems, was remanded in custody for nine months.
In various cities across Kazakhstan, dozens of people took to the streets in protest against the collapse of the national currency. More than 40 protesters were forcibly taken to the police station.
An environmental activist of the initiative group ‘We’ll Protect the Kok Zhailau’, Dagmar Schreiber has been charged with of inciting social discord in connection with her active civic activities.
It is very important to prevent the extradition of refugees from European countries to Russia, where they might be subjected to torture or be sent back to the countries of Central Asia and subjected to ill-treatment and convicted there.
Kazakhstan is party to the Convention against Torture and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Speech by Chairman of the Paris Chamber of Advocates Christiane Feral-Schuhl on the occasion of the award Vadim Kuramshin
Human rights and the issue of their observance have become the subject of the conference, which was held in the Senate on 16 December, 2013. The conference was organised by the Legislative Committee and the Human Rights, the Rule of Law and Petitions Committee.
One of the leaders of the Alga! party along with Vladimir Kozlov, a former colleague of Mukhtar Ablyazov. He sought the support for the striking oil workers in Zhanaozen. He was accused of preparing terrorist attacks together with Alexandr Pavlov and Mukhtar Ablyazov in Almaty in 2012.
On 16 December, we commemorated the second anniversary of these events. A special website: http://www.zhanaozen.eu/ has been launched in order to memorialise this tragedy.
The official cause of death of Kazakh journalist Igor Larra has not yet been confirmed to his family. During his life, Larra was threatened repeatedly and attacked in connection with his professional activity.
After the case of Father Sofroniy received widespread publicity, a court rescinded the decision on his deportation from Kazakhstan. However, acting upon mercenary motivation, the authorities have been attempting to close the refuge, created for children and the elderly by the Orthodox priest
Appeal to embassies of the European Union.
Reports on the findings of the Monitoring Mission to observe rights and rule of law in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
On 13 November, 2013, Karaganda Regional Court is to consider the appeal filed by the Kazakh human rights activist, Zinaida Mukhortova. On 25 November, 2013, the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan is to hold a preliminary review of the supervisory appeal filed by Vadim Kuramshin’s lawyers.
On 22 October, 2013, the Karaganda Regional Court will consider the appeal filed by the Kazakh human rights activist Zinaida Mukhortova against the court’s decision regarding the forced hospitalisation
Political prisoner, Kazakh opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov has been systematically and unlawfully denied a transfer to a colony in close proximity to his place of residence in Almaty Province
The assistant professor of the Eurasian Humanitarian Institute and doctor of juridical sciences, Ablaykhan Akkuliyev, on the problems in the prison system and reform.
Forcibly hospitalised with a diagnosis of ‘chronic delusional disorder’, the human rights activist Zinaida Mukhortova continues to be confined and subjected to involuntary treatment.
The story of KDC is an outstanding illustration to the very core issues of the Kazakhstan authoritarian regime, where all the power lies in the hands of a closed circle of decision makers with the President Nursultan Nazarbayev at the head
Kazakh authorities are exploiting the legal mechanisms of the International Criminal Police Organisation in order to persecute opponents of the regime.
The journalist and civil activist, Aleksandr Kharlamov was taken into custody on charges of inciting religious hatred during March, 2013. He has undergone psychiatric examination several times during the period of incarceration.
On 3 September, 2013, the Deputy Head of the neuropsychiatric clinic Ryspek Iskakov refused to release human rights defender after he obtained the documents concerning her appeal on the court’s decision about compulsory psychiatric detention.
The Open Dialog Foundation hereby demands the immediate release of Zinaida Mukhortova, a human rights defender of the town of Balkhash.
Recent events in Kazakhstan’s history have confirmed that all members of the political and financial elite, who, at one time, have gained influence or opposed the President, have now been eliminated. They have all either been assassinated, forced into political exile, or are in prison
Political persecution of Vladimir Kozlov.
Former employee of Kazakhstan’s BTA Bank, Zaure Akpenbetova may face extradition to Kazakhstan in connection with the charges she has been presented with in the criminal case of a prominent opposition politician, Mukhtar Ablyazov.
The political struggle against the main opponent of the regime has resulted in gross violations of civil and political rights in Kazakhstan, as well as the neglect of the international obligations, assumed by the state.
The 52-year-old opposition politician is still not being treated in prison – this news was reported by his wife, Aliya Turusbekova. Vladimir Kozlov’s current health problems could lead to a stroke, but the administration of the colony remains idle.
Poor working conditions, low salaries, a lack of protection by the law – these and other reasons have prompted industrial workers in Kazakhstan to hold protest rallies in order to defend their rights
An interview with by Evgeniy Zhovtis
The perpetrators of the assassination attempt against Lukpan Akhmedyarov have been sentenced to long prison terms. However, the true architects of the assassination attempt have not yet been determined
On July 1st 2013, members of the parliamentary observation mission to Kazakhstan organised by the Open Dialog Foundation submitted their letter to President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Wolfgang Grossruk.
Preliminary consideration of Vladimir Kozlov’s supervisory complaint, which had been scheduled for the 1 July, 2013, didn’t take place. For the second time, the Supreme Court adjourned proceedings.
Kazakhstan human rights activist Vadim Kuramshin has been awarded the international Ludovic-Trarieux Prize of 2013. The prize is awarded annually to civil activists and advocates involved in human rights defence.
The criminal proceedings against the wife of fugitive Kazakh opposition leader, Mukhtar Ablyazov, bear features of a political order. Ablyazov’s six-year-old daughter, Alua Ablyazova, may also be the victim of political conflict.
The retrial of the political prisoner, Vladimir Kozlov, before the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan will be held on Monday, 1 July at 9:30 a.m.
Four Polish MPs, namely: Marcin Święcicki, Tomasz Makowski, Piotr Cieśliński and Adam Rybakowicz are travelling to Astana with the observation mission.
The health condition of Roza Tuletayeva, the activist of oil workers’ strikes in Zhanaozen has seriously deteriorated. So far, the prison administration has failed to provide her with adequate medical care. Roza Tuletayeva’s life is now in danger
01.07.2013 the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan is to hold a preliminary review of the supervisory appeal in the case of the opposition politician Vladimir Kozlov
Citing the independence of thought and action as a fundamental condition for the existence of a democratic state, we hereby call for the cessation of oppression against opposition political activists.
Once again, the attempts of the independent Kazakhstan media – «Vzglyad» and «Respublika» newspapers to defend their rights to exist in court and operate within the territory of Kazakhstan were in vain
The creation of a new single pension fund in Kazakhstan is officially aimed at improving the state pension system. However, such a reform, in addition to the nationalisation of private savings funds, will concentrate most of the mandatory and voluntary pension savings in the hands of the state.
A rapid growth in utility rates has now become a concern of most Kazakh citizens. Monopolists explain the growth rates by the modernisation of infrastructure, but in reality the technology remains dated and dilapidated.
03.06.2013 – 10.06.2013
The story of the forcible expulsion of Mukhtar Ablyazov’s family to Kazakhstan has become the number one topic of recent days. Was it extradition or deportation? Was it kidnapping or state-sponsored terrorism? These and other questions were addressed by Yevgeniy Zhovtis
Once again, civil society activists in Kazakhstan are being persecuted for participating in peaceful protests.
Presentation of the annual ‘Freedom’ awards was not held as a result of obstacles being put in place by the authorities. The Kazakh Prosecutor’s Office stated that the event is associated with the banned political party ‘Alga!’ and is therefore illegal.
Although the MFA stated on 1 June that they knew nothing about the kidnapping of Alma and her child, I have found out that during the flight they were accompanied by 2 employees of the embassy of Kazakhstan in Italy
The Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan has released 6 oil workers from custody, who were convicted in the Zhanaozen case. However, the court upheld the sentences of the remaining prisoners, ignoring numerous statements on the use of torture against them by the investigating authorities.
The General Prosecutor’s Office of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the management of the Penal Colony ЕС-164/3, where Vladimir Kozlov is currently serving his term, responded to the official inquiry, submitted by the Open Dialog Foundation regarding the Kazakh oppositionist’s health condition
On 26 April, the Polish Radio 24 hosted Lyudmyla Kozlovska and Bartosz Kramek from the Open Dialog Foundation. The broadcast was held on the occasion of an opening of an international conference in Astana, devoted to the future of the region after the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan
On 11 May, the Finnish Centre for Art and Design in Fiskars held an exhibition of photographs from Kazakhstan, entitled ‘Silenced Voices’. The author, photographer and journalist, Kukka Ranta, visited Kazakhstan in autumn 2012 during the mission, organised by the Open Dialog Foundation
The Open Dialog Foundation, Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute and the Goethe-Institut invite you to attend a debate featuring Adam Michnik, Bolat Atabayev and Roman Pawłowski
On 30 April, 2013, an eight-day mission of the Supreme Bar Council to Kazakhstan came to an end. The Open Dialog Foundation was the initiator of the enterprise, as it had addressed the Commission and External Image of Pro Bono Activities with the SBC with a request to organise the mission
While the President of Finland was holding a meeting with Kazakh President in Astana, in Helsinki, journalists were making efforts to influence their leader. ‘Niinistö, do not forget about human rights’ – was the title of an article written by Kukka Ranta, who managed to visit Zhanaozen
The government of Kazakhstan has been ignoring the demands of both the Kazakh and international community by failing to provide medical care to Roza Tuletayeva or publicise anyobjective data regarding the state of her health.
Criminal prosecution is one of the main instruments of political struggle in Kazakhstan; with this method, President Nursultan Nazarbayev has successfully eliminated his political opponents and critics for many years. National security services assist him in these endeavours
The threats against the independent press in Kazakhstan are becoming a reality: Guzyal Baydalinova, an employee of the closed newspaper ‘Golos Respubliki’, was attacked before the very eyes of her neighbours. There is reason to believe that Special Forces of Kazakhstan were involved in the attack
Four weeks before the announced visit of Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Serik Akhmetov, to Warsaw, Polish politicians from various parties have called on for the cessation of the persecution of independent media in this Central Asian country
The public expression of religious views was the reason for the arrest and initiation of a criminal case against Aleksandr Kharlamov, a civic activist from Ridder. He now faces imprisonment or compulsory treatment in a psychiatric hospital
The export of raw materials from Kazakhstan is still directed mainly to Russia, but as Kazakhstan wishes to obtain a dominant position in the region, it will soon strive to break free from the historically determined patronage of Russia by developing new directions of hydrocarbon exports
The health condition of one of the leaders of the oil workers strike movement in Zhanaozen, Roza Tuletayeva, currently residing in prison, is critical. In order to protest against the inaction of the colony management, Roza Tuletayeva has been forced to declare a hunger strike.
The reform has not eliminated, and in some cases – even exacerbated – the problem of violation of the right to defence at trial, the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and gatherings, as well as the freedom of expression and dissemination of information.
Due to the authoritarian nature of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the opposition party ‘Alga!’ began to experience difficulties from the very beginning of its existence.
During his stay in the colony, the health condition of the 52-year-old Kazakh oppositionist has considerably worsened. Due to the lack of necessary medical equipment and medical specialists in prison, Vladimir Kozlov does not receive adequate assistance
The Front Line Defenders and the Open Dialog Foundation along with a group of well-known international civil society organisations launched an appeal to the Kazakh authorities to revise the transfer of Vadim Kuramshin, prominent human rights defender
06.03.2013 – 18.03.2013
The court of cassation refused to grant the appeal in the case of Vladimir Kozlov. Meanwhile, his wife, Aliya Turusbekova, has reported that her husband’s health is deteriorating; she also fears potential provocations against him in the penal colony
The critical deterioration of the situation of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan has been publicly announced by representatives of Kazakhstan community and European politicians
The Appellate Court deemed the newspapers: ‘Vzglyad’ and “one media outlet ‘Respublika’” extremist. In violation of international treaties and domestic law, the Kazakh authorities have imposed censorship and prohibition of professional activities on individual journalists.
15.02.2013 – 05.03.2013
The Appellate Court upheld the guilty verdict against the human rights defender Vadim Kuramshin. Soon, he is going to be transported to the high-security penal colony EC 164/4. Now, friends and relatives of the Kazakh human rights activist fear possible reprisals against him.
The prosecution did not have sufficient evidence to prove Askar Moldashev’s guilt; he had previously faced charges of drug possession. During the trial, gross procedural irregularities and inconsistencies in the evidence were revealed.
Special Edition. Corruption and unpredictable government policies pose serious obstacles to the work of investors in Kazakhstan. The change in the rules of cooperation with foreign investors in the pharmaceutical sector, made by the state, calls into question their further presence in Kazakhstan.
The oil industry in Kazakhstan, which is one of the most promising in the world, is now undergoing substantial changes. Recently, foreign companies have more and more frequently denied their participation in projects relating to oil production in the Caspian shelf
30.01.2013 – 14.02.2013
Prosecutors mitigated the charges against Askar Moldashev, the brother of Daniyar Moldashev, the publisher of the ‘Golos Respubliki’ newspaper
The Supreme Court of Kazakhstan mitigated the sentence of Duman Aripbaev and Unerbek Alshimbaev, former managers of the ‘Kompaniya Munay-Ekologiya’. Alshimbaev was released on probation straight from the courtroom.
On 5 February, 2013, the prosecutor of the Medeu District of Almaty was trying to present a warning of criminal responsibility for the issuing of the “one media ‘Respublika’”, addressed to the Editor-in-Chief, Tatiana Trubacheva
Over recent days, dozens of civil activists from various regions of Kazakhstan were summoned for interrogations by financial police with relation to a criminal case against the oppositionist Mukhtar Ablyazov.
On 7 December, 2012, the Specialized Interdistrict Criminal Court of Zhambyl Province accused a prominent human rights activist: Vadim Kuramshin of extortion and sentenced him to 12 years in a strict regime prison with confiscation of property.
On 18 January, 2013, a court trial in connection with the assassination of Aleksandr Bozhenko, (one of the witnesses of the Zhanaozen events of 16 December, 2011,) came to an end
It is planned that on 1 January, 2014, Kazakhstan will introduce a new Code of Criminal Procedure. Human rights activists and lawyers fear that the new criminal legislation will unreasonably enhance the powers of the police and create conducive conditions for violations of human rights.
Report on the Observation Mission to Observe Human Rights and the Rule of Law in the Republic of Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, sentences against participants of the tragic events in Zhanaozen and Shetpe village have been revised. The decisions of the appellate board did not meet the expectations of the public.
The position of the Open Dialog Foundation on Aleksander Kwasniewski’s role as an advisor to the President of Kazakhstan
By the decision of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) of Kazakhstan, the opposition politician has been convoyed to the penal colony outside the area of his residence, namely to Petropavlovsk, North Kazakhstan Province
In connection with the criminal case against opposition politician Muratbek Ketebayev, the staff of the National Security Committee have sealed-off offices and confiscated the propertyof several independent medias and opposition groups
The special services of Kazakhstan have initiated a criminal case against Askar Moldashev, the brother of Daniyar Moldashev and publisher of the ‘Golos Respubliki’ newspaper. His counsel and relatives claim evidence has been fabricated and that he is a victim of blackmail carried out by the NSC.
08.12.2012 – 16.12.2012
A number of independent media outlets have been banned in Kazakhstan. The prohibition of the activity does not concern just editorial offices of these media, but also the journalists who have worked for the outlets.
27.11.2012 – 07.12.2012
A court has sentenced Asel Nurgaziyeva to 12 days of incarceration, having accused her of disorderly conduct and disobeying police officers. The circumstances of the human rights defender’s arrest remain unclear. Nurgaziyeva’s lawyer claims provocation.
My previous article was devoted to the self-proclaimed ‘Leader of the Nation’, who, in my opinion, is a major factor, which is encouraging advocates of democracy and nationalists to unite. Today, I turn to the subject which is very painful for the nationalists
The details of the investigation into the suicide bombing in a private house at Moldagulova street, special operations in Kulsary, the attack on officers of the Department of Internal Affairs in Atyrau and special operations in the Koktem
10.11.2012 – 27.11.2012
On the night of the 24th of November, 2012, Vladimir Kozlov was transferred by Stolypin car to the city of Aktobe. According to numerous reports, in penal colonies of the Aktobe Province, instances of ill-treatment of detainees have been reported repeatedly.
European Parliament resolution of 22 November 2012 containing the European Parliament’s recommendations to the Council, the Commission and the European External Action Service on the negotiations for an EU-Kazakhstan enhanced partnership and cooperation agreement
Attempts made by the Kazakh authorities to ban the activities of opposition parties and the media outlets in the country have caused a strong negative reaction among the international community.
After the appeals to the local authorities proved to be unsuccessful, the pupils of the Mangistau Province orphanage were forced to seek help from international human rights organisations.
The Medeu District Court ordered the seizure of the circulation of the newspaper ‘Golos Respubliki’ after it arrives at the airport of Almaty. This means that tomorrow, the latest issue of the newspaper will not reach readers.
A number of independent media organisations and opposition NGOs of Kazakhstan are under the threat of closure and prohibition of activities in the country. The Prosecutor’s Office in Almaty filed a motion in court, demanding that these organisations be deemed as extremist
The sentence of the leader of the unregistered opposition party ‘Alga!’ was upheld by the Appellate Court. The court did not take into account the arguments of the oppositionist’s defence and gave no justification for the ruling.
23.10.2012 – 09.11.2012
The Board of Appeals of the Zhambyl Regional Court overturned the acquittal of Kazakh human rights defender Vadim Kuramshin. On the 31st of October, 2012, he was arrested. Supporters of the human rights activist reported that while he was remanded in custody, Vadim Kuramshin attempted suicide.
We present to you an information booklet, devoted to the turbulent situation in the Republicof Kazakhstan – the largest country in Central Asia and the third largest economy in the CIS (after Russia and Ukraine).
We have just acquired information that Askar, the older brother of Daniyar Moldhashev, the President of the LLP and publisher of the ‘Golos Respubliki’ newspaper, has been arrested by officers of the National Security Committee. He has been arrested ostensibly for drug possession.
Following the conviction of the leader of Kazakh democratic opposition, Vladimir Kozlov, in Kazakhstan, oppression of civil society activists has begun.
On the 7th of October, 2012, in Zhanaozen, a 23-year-old orphan Aleksandr Bozhenko, a witness of the tragic events in Zhanaozen was killed. During the trial of 37 oil workers, he retracted his false testimony and made a statement on the use of torture
Major events in the socio-political life of the country in the period between 01.10.2012 – 23.10.2012
On 08.08.2012, a sentence in the case of opposition leaders has been handed down.Vladimir Kozlov was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months imprisonment with confiscation of property. Akzhanat Aminov and Serik Sapargali were sentenced to 5 and 4 years’ probation, respectively
On the 9th of October, 2012, in Warsaw, the European Parliament Information Office in Warsaw held a press conference entitled ‘Has Kazakhstan changed? – A year after the shootings in Zhanaozen’. The conference was dedicated to the court sentence handed down against the leader of the opposition party ‘Alga!’ V. Kozlov. Methods of influence on […]
Major events in the socio-political life of the country in the period between 01.09.2012-30.09.2012
The trial in the case of the oppositionists enters its final stage – closing arguments. The state prosecution has prematurely announced V. Kozlov guilty of committing all the criminal offences under the stated articles and asked the court to sentence the opposition leader to 9 years’ imprisonment
BRUSSELS, 20th of September, 2012 – Social society activists from Kazakhstan, following the example of the so-called ‘Magnitsky List’, drew up their own list of officials and named it the ‘Zhanaozen List’
Muammar Gaddafi vs. Nursultan Nazarbayev. What assets will the President of Kazakhstan leave behind?
After the bloody protests in Zhanaozen, the Kazakh authorities put the oppositionists before the court, accusing them of causing the unrest in the country. The activists may be incarcerated for more over ten years.
Recent events in Aktau highlighted the importance of international monitoring over the trial of the oppositionists in Kazakhstan.
MEPs Marek Migalski and Piotr Borys issued a request in connection with the intensifying situation in Kazakhstan and more violent repression against the opposition leaders.
The further course of the trial of the oppositionists: Vladimir Kozlov, Serik Sapargali and Akzhanat Aminov serves to prove the prejudice of the court and the inequality between the prosecution and the defence
The biggest political trial in which the accused is the main leader of the ‘Alga!’ opposition party, Vladimir Kozlov, is ongoing in Kazakhstan
In Kazakhstan, the largest political process, in which Vladimir Kozlov, the leader of the main opposition party ‘Alga!’ is principal accused, is ongoing.
Ukrainian human rights activists reported on the systematic violation of the principles of equality and adversity in court, which casts doubt over the justice and validity of the final decision of the court.
Freedom House is monitoring the trial of Kazakhstani opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov, who is being tried alongside activists Serik Sapargali and Akzhanat Aminov on charges of attempting to overthrow the government of Kazakhstan
On Friday, the 31st of August, at 11.30, a press conference will be held in the press centre of the UNIAN information agency (Khreschatyk Str, 4). The conference is entitled: ‘The trial of opposition leader in Kazakhstan, Vladimir Kozlov, in the eyes of Ukrainian observers’
On the 16th of August, 2012, at 10:00 am, in the Mangistau Regional Court in Aktau, the trial of Vladimir Kozlov, Serik Sapargali and Akzhanat Aminov began
On the 28th of August, 2012, the Kazakh human rights defender Vadim Kuramshin was sentenced to a 1 year of restriction of liberty order and subsequently released from the courtroom in the city of Taraz
(Reuters) – An outspoken critic of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev went on trial on Thursday charged with attempting to overthrow the government, in a case the United States says will test the oil-producing former Soviet state’s democratic progress
(Moscow) – Kazakhstan authorities have an obligation to ensure that the trial of two political opposition activists and an oil worker, starting on August 16, 2012, is fair and public and that the defendants’ due process rights are fully respected, Human Rights Watch said today.
The Appellate court in an accelerated procedure, considered the appeals of 13 convicted oil workers. Vladimir Kozlov was deprived of the right to become familiarised with the evidence of the case before the trial
01.07.2012 – 31.07.2012
The Appellate Court softened the sentence of the former police officers convicted for abuse of office during the dispersal of the peaceful demonstration of oil workers on the 16th-17th of December, 2011 in Zhanaozen
The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay declared during a press conference in Astana, that she would closely monitor the situation with the criminal case against Vladimir Kozlov, who has been under arrest for more than seven months.
Justice prevails – right after Bolat Atabayev was released from arrest, a 24-year-old journalist Zhanbolat Mamay also regained his freedom
To date, four opposition leaders who were charged under several articles of the Criminal Code in the so-called case on “incitement of social hatred” still remain in custody
The well-known Theatre Director, Bolat Atabayev has eventually been released from detention. Attempts undertaken by investigators to persuade him to testify falsely against Vladimir Kozlov turned out to be futile
Polish media should make every effort to find reliable information about the country, in which Poland has vested interests
The Kazakh media report about the pressure exerted by the United States on the European Commission and Parliament to accelerate the signing of the agreement on partnership and cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan.
According to the lawyers, the release of Bolat Atabayev and Zhanbolat Mamay depends solely on their willingness to testify against members of the civic opposition.
Sign the petition demanding justice for the oil workers and people in Kazakhstan
Risks of using corruption tools in emerging markets by Western corporations. A tragedy at the Kazakh border post.
It became known that on the 15th of June, 2012, during the detention, brute physical force was used on the famous theater director Bolat Atabaev
Ayzhangul Amirova, an activist of the opposition movement ‘Khalyk Maidany’ was released from custody where she has remained since the 6th of January, 2012.
In connection with the visit of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr. Yerzhan Kazykhanov to Poland the Open Dialog Foundation officially expressed its regret over the denial of participation in the meeting of the representatives of the Foundation.
On 21 June 2012 in the United Nations Offices in Geneva (UNOG)
Report on Kazakhstan
Press announcement
REPORT
On Friday, 15.06.2012, the National Security Committee officers arrested a well-known theater director and activist of the opposition movement “Halyk Maidany”, Bolat Atabaev, as well as the leader of the youth organization “Rukh pen til”, Zhanbolat Mamay
On the 6th of June, 2012 in the morning, Alia Turusbekova received threats with the demand to ‘shut up’, or “prison officials will sort things out with her husband” from a representative of the NSC: Nurlan Mazhilov
A famous public figure, Vice-Chairman of the Public Organization “Miner’s Family”, Tahir Mukhamedzyanov, was found dead in his own apartment.
The Open Dialog Foundation expresses its concern over the detention and attempts to put pressure on the lawyer Asel Nurgaziyeva, a Kazakh human rights activist and the head of the Atyrau Public Association ‘Zaman’
On the 30th of May, 2012, in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, 14 border guards from the Arkankergen border post and a local gamekeeper were found dead in burned-out buildings. They were found by workers from the ‘Sarah bukter’ border post
On Monday, the 4th of June, 2012, during the trial concerning the riots in Zhanaozen on the 15th and 16th of December 2011, 36 sentences, of 36 out of 37 defendants, were read.
This issue focuses on two pressing issues for the life of Kazakhstan, namely: the opposition of two groups: ‘doves’ and ‘hawks’ in Kazakhstan’s political elite, as well as the adequacy of current anti-terrorist rhetoric used by the country’s government.
A labour dispute between the company’s employees and the management of the corporation
Press Conference in Kyiv, 18.05.2012
Italian Senator Barbara Contini and Italian Deputy Aldo Di Biagio meet delegation from Kazakhstan to discuss human rights and opposition repression issues
The Open Dialog Foundation continues to monitor the socio-political situation in Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan gives signs of change in its geopolitical orientation.
During the Aktau trial for those whom President Nazarbaev and his closest advisors decided to deem guilty of organising mass riots in Zhanaozen on the 16th-17th of December, 2011, methods by which special prosecutors and investigators forced defendants to give ‘confessions’ were revealed
On Saturday, May 5, 2012, the information was spread that workers of the ‘Annenskaya’ mine went on strike, demanding that the company’s management improve working conditions and substantially increase wages.
The Open Dialog Foundation continues to monitor the situation in Aktau, where hearings regarding the riots in Zhanaozen on the 16th and 17th of December, 2011 have been held.
The re-election of Nursultan Nazarbayev in early April last year with an announced 95% of the vote gives a fairly clear idea of the little consideration he gives to alternative and critical opinion
The Open Dialog Foundation continues to monitor the situation in Aktau, where hearings on the case of the riots on December 16-17 in Zhanaozen have been carried out. This document provides a brief chronology of the trial.
The President of the Social Foundation ‘Civic Activity’ Muratbek Ketebaev commented on the situation around charges of terrorism filed against the opposition leaders of Kazakhstan.
The leader of the youth movement Zhanbolat Mamay and a theatre director Bolat Atabayev were not allowed to leave Kazakhstan to participate in a session on human rights and freedom of speech
At the moment, the life of the journalist Lukpan Akhmedyarov is at risk: he suffered a huge loss of blood, wounds caused damage of blood vessels in his heart
The staff of the Open Dialog Foundation hereby informs about potential attempts, made by the Kazakh government to discredit the Foundation in order to eliminate this organisation as one of the sources of independent information about the situation on human rights and media freedom in Kazakhstan
An authoritative German media holding ‘Deutche Welle’ posted an article on its web site which discusses some characteristic features of Kazakh justice in matters relating to combating corruption in the country.
It was reported that on the 30th of March, 2012 an administrative case was initiated against Lyudmila Gorbenko
The published video is a staged, unsuccessful attempt to discredit opposition figures in the eyes of the public
During the hearing related to the tragic events in Zhanaozen on the 16th of December, 2011, an injured policeman abandoned his claim against the defendants.
The case on persecution
In early March 2012 the international community placed high expectations on Kazakhstan. But the situation began to change dramatically after the prominent opposition leaders
NHC: ‘Opposition Alga party leader Vladimir Kozlov is still imprisoned along with several labour activists from Western Kazakhstan, and there are still limitations on the freedom of assembly and of expression.’
Journalist Irina Mednikova and Head of Publications Dissemination Department, Julia Kozlova were met by the security services at the entrances of their homes.
The case on persecution
‘The National Security Committee of Kazakhstan prevented at the stage of preparing acts of terrorism in the city of Almaty’.
Irina Mednikova, the editor of the “Voice of the Republic” newspaper, and the head of the Publications Dissemination Department, Yulia Kozlova, were detained by officers of the Department of the National Security Committee.
Trials are closed to the media and international observers,oppression of the editorial staff of the ‘Golos Respubliki’ newspaper and opposition activists continues
U.S. mining business consultants Behre Dolbear ranked Kazakhstan one of the world’s five riskiest mining nations for investors
Piotr Borys: EP will be appeal to the authorities of Kazakhstan regarding the matters of democratisation of the country.
The editor of the ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper was released under amnesty, opposition leaders had their terms of arrest extended for another month
The full text
Interview with Igor Vinyavskiy, the editor of the ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, given after his release.
Editor of the Kazakhstani opposition newspaper “Vzglyad,” was given amnesty and released from the Committee of National Security’s detention center
The statement of the ‘Khalyk Maidany’ organisation regarding the so-called ‘liberation’ of Natalia Sokolova
In 2011, a unprecedented social protest movement prolonged by a violent uprising, a wave of odd attacks and the Head of State’s health problems made the authorities even more nervous, causing them to tighten their control over information, especially online.
On the 12th of March 2012, Alia Turusbekova, Vladimir Kozlov’s wife, wrote another petition, the fifth in a row, requesting a meeting with her detained spouse.
Sokolova was extremely brief because the preventive measure which was applied toward her prohibits to give any comments on what happened or what is happening.
The Open Dialog Foundation has noted that the continuation of rights violations against the detained opposition activists, as well as the lack of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech in Kazakhstan.
The Open Dialog Foundation has noted that the continuation of rights violations against the detained opposition activists, as well as the lack of freedom of assembly and freedom of speech in Kazakhstan.
In a show of support for Igor Vinyavsky, the editor of the Kazakh independent daily Vzglyad, who has been held for more than a month, Reporters Without Borders is publishing an interview he gave on 1 July 2011 .
An apprehension and ridiculous charges filed against the editor-in-chief of the ‘Vzlgyad’ newspaper put him in one group with the most famous ‘prisoners of conscience’.
The document itself is called «Arrêtez le carnage», which means “Stop the massacre”
The threats were sent to the home of Alia Turusbekova, Vladimir Kozlovs’ wife, saying that Vladimir Kozlov may be transferred to Zhanaozen to a detention facility with a stricter regime.
February was marked by a MEP’s visit to Zhanaozen and a rally organised by the Kazakh citizens who disagree with the policies of the government
The appeal of the Polish society, the media and NGOs to the government of Kazakhstan to stop violations of human rights and freedom of speech
An interview with Piotr Borys, MEP, after his return from Almaty and Zhanaozen, where mass riots took place in December
The beginning of 2012 was marked by arrests of journalists of opposition newspapers and social activists.
Ermukhamet Ertysbaev: ‘As for the TV channel “K +”, they carry out acts of real information terrorism against Kazakhstan’.
The investigative team has been continuing the investigation into the criminal case, initiated on charges of mass disorders that took place in the town of Zhanaozen.
MEP Piotr Borys, who visited Zhanaozen, stated that the town’s residents are afraid to speak openly.
MEP Piotr Borys visited the town of Zhanaozen in Kazakhstan.
Announcement: Documents which indicate the use of violence by the police against minors in Zhanaozen have been published
[20:08:20] Interlexica: As a result of this leaflet, the editor-in-chief and the journalists of Kazakhstan may be incarcerated for seven years
Action carried out in Berlin in support of civic activists in Kazakhstan on February 7, 2012.
The National Security Committee of Kazakhstan commits acts that bear signs of a planned operation aimed at blocking the work of the regional offices of the ‘Alga!’ party.
The Ukrainian journalistic movement ‘Stop Censorship!’ strongly condemns the oppression that the Kazakh authorities have subjected independent journalists to.
The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, made the following statement today: “Kazakhstan is an important partner for the EU in Central Asia and the EU has good relations and dialogue with Kazakhstan, which are important to maintain for exchanging our views and concerns. My meeting […]
Parliamentary elections 2012 in Kazakhstan: results and trends.
Confiscation of computers and other office equipment by the workers of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan began in the office of the ‘Golos Respubliki’ newspaper in Almaty.
The investigators link the charges with the tragic events in the city of Zhanaozen.
Almaty: The rally resulted in apprehensions.
11.05.2011 – Beginning of the strike of the workers of the following oil extraction and production companies: ‘OzenMunayGaz’, ‘Karazhanbasmunay’ (investor from China), ‘Ersai Caspian Contractor’ (Italian ENI holding).
The National Security Committee isolates opposionist’ activist
A Russian Reporter comments on the mood of the people of the Mangistau Province: “The anti-Nazarbaev mood is, of course, very strong after his comments made on TV, regarding the events in Zhanaozen”.
Order on Opening a Criminal Case № and accepting it for proceedings Almaty, January 23, 2012 The senior investigator from the Investigation Department of the Committee for National Security in Almaty, Captain Kobenbaev S, after examining the material registered in the Log of the Registration of Statements and Information relating to crimes under № 159 […]
Markus Löning, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, issued the following statement in Berlin.
I. Vinyavski, the editor of the ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, V. Kozlov, the leader of the ‘Alga’ party, and Serik Sapargali, a social activist, who were apprehended by the workers of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, have not appeared at a hearing relating to the extension of their custody.
Markus Löning, Federal Government Commissioner for Human Rights Policy and Humanitarian Aid, issued the following statement in Berlin.
Drop Vague Criminal Charge, Release Detainees
Kazakh authorities searched the apartments and offices of members of Alga, an unregistered opposition party that was not allowed to participate in parliamentary elections, and independent newspaper, Vzglyad.
Vladimir Kozlov and Igor Vinyavskiy were arrested on charges of inciting social unrest and calling for the violent overthrow and change of the constitutional order by force and violation of the unity in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In Kazakhstan, representatives of mass media and opposistion organisations were arrested on fabricated charges
The photos from the conference held January 17 in the European Parliament in Strasbourg by the MEP (PO), Piotr Borys, “Zhanaozen: from conflict to tragedy.How staff will take place after the parliamentary elections.”
On the 17th of January, 2012 at 1.00 p.m., Nurlan Beysenov, an officer of the National Security Committee, came to the office of the ‘Stan.kz’. He handed orders to report for interrogation on the same day (on the 17th of January, 2012 at 3.00 p.m.) to 15 workers of ‘Stan.kz’. Such an order directed at […]
It is likely that next week the European Parliament will hold a minute’s silence to honour the victims of the December riots in Kazakhstan. The request was submitted to the head of the EP, Jerzy Buzek by the Open Dialog Foundation and the MEP Piotr Borys.
Opposition public figure Ayzhangul Amirova was detained in Aktau.
Election 28.12.2011, Almaty The City Prosecutor’s Office held a meeting with long-term members of the Election Observation Mission: Andrew McEntee and Elgun Tagiev. The deputy prosecutor of Almaty, Zhandos Umiraliev conveyed information about the order relating to the receipt of complaints regarding voting irregularities filed by members of election commissions, citizens as well as representatives […]
The events in Zhanaozen and reaction to them are still the most prominent issues.
Special correspondent of ‘Novaya gazeta’ Elena Kostyuchenko is reporting about the situation in Zhanaozen
Special correspondent of ‘Novaya gazeta’ Elena Kostyuchenko is reporting about the situation in Zhanaozen.
The agitation period of the election campaign in Kazakhstan started, but the main pertinent events of the week were the tragic occurrences in Zhanaozen.
Appeal to the representatives of the European society to provide humanitarian assistance to the Mangistau Province inhabitants who suffered as a result of disorder.
On 16thDecember, 2011 in the city of Zhanaozen at approx. 10 a.m. local time on Independence Day, striking oil workers and their family members, who have been taking part in the protests since 17th May 2011, were dispersed by means of extreme measures in the form of the use of noxious gases and the
In Kazakhstan, the stage of candidate nomination is coming to an end and international organisations are forming observation groups.
While pre-election party conferences are held, human rights organisations issue statements about the high level of corruption and the deterioration of freedom of speech in Kazakhstan.
This issue is devoted to the risk of terrorism and extremism in Kazakhstan.
On November 14-16, 2011 in the Akimat of the city of Zhanaozen meetings of the dismissed workers of the production branch “KarazhanbasMunai” and the representatives of the authorities were held.
First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan, and the National Public Association “The Communist Party of Kazakhstan” were found guilty of committing an administrative illegality and were subjected to administrative penalties.
On 10.11.2011, the deputies of the 4th convocation of the Majilis Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan appealed to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan requesting the dissolution of Parliament.
On October 26, 2011, Asan Amilov, a cameraman, and Orken Bisen, a journalist from the “Stan.kz” were subject to armed attack in Aktau, the Mangistau District. The bullet-wounded victims were admitted to hospital. A criminal investigation was initiated in connection with the incident.
Strikes of oil and gas industry workers in western regions of Kazakhstan have been continuing for over five months now.
The protests of the oil sector workers fueled tension between the authorities, NGOs and independent media.
This issue of the bulletin was prepared by the analytical department of the Open Dialog Foundation and it is devoted to the subject of oil sector workers protests in Western Kazakhstan.
On October 26, 2011 in the city of Zhanaozen, at approx. 5.30 p.m. local time, an armed attack was carried out against Yestay Karashaev, a dismissed striking oil sector worker.
Today in Zhanaozen police officers stopped the car transporting the copies of the newspaper “Voice of the Respublika.”
Thematic hearings ‘Central Asia – EU: human rights dialogue results’ were held in the European Parliament
A press conference organized by Mr. Ryszard Kalisz, Chairman of the Justice and Human Rights Committee of the Polish Parliament, was held in the Polish Sejm on September 26, 2011.
Representatives of Kazakhstan’s independent mass media and trade unions representing the striking workers and Ryszard Kalisz take part in press conference.
IMF&ICEM: Oil workers and their family members are frequently beaten by thugs. Every day workers also receive death threats.
During the plenary session in Strasbourg, Marek Migalski presented the situation of Kazakh oil industry workers to Members of the Parliament.
On 28 September, 2011, the Open Dialog Foundation, within the framework of the conference of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe entitled Human Dimension Implementation Europe Meeting in Warsaw, is going to organize a seminar.
Illegal criminal prosecution of Natalia Sokolova, lawyer of the labor union of the joint-stock company “Karazhanbasmunay”.
On 24 August, 2011 in the suburbs of the city of Zhanaozen (the Western Kazakhstan), Zhansaule Karabalaeva, 18-year-old daughter of Kudaibergen Karabalaev was found dead with multiple stab wounds.
Arrests and detentions of legitimate trade-union leaders and activists of the civil society
On 3 August, 2011, Zhaksylyk Turbaev, a 28-year-old trade-union activist, an oil industry worker-borer of the company “MunayFieldService” was murdered in Zhanaozen.
16 August 2011 in the airport of the city of Aktau (Western Kazakhstan) a leader of the youth organization “Rukh Pen Til” Zhanbolat Mamay was arrested.
On the 24th of July 2011 a photo exhibition “Kazakhstan is it you?” was opened in Radomsko. The organisers of the exhibition are the Open Dialog Foundation and the Office of the Deputy to the Seym, Krzysztof Maciejewski (member of Polish-Kazakhstanian Parliamentary Group)…
The workers of “OzenMunayGaz”, “Karazhanbasmunay”, and a part of the Italian ENI holding “The Ersai Caspian Contractor LLC” have continued their termless protest action.
The OSCE Chairmanship and the agreement to hold the 2010 OSCE Summit in Astana, despite it not having a Summit-like agenda were significant ‘carrots’ given to Kazakhstan.
The Head of the election observation mission of ODIHR/OSCE, Daan Everts, announcing the preliminary results of monitoring during election campaign on Monday.
The delegation of Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) thinks that people’s will is reflected in the result of the snap presidential election, which took place in Kazakhstan on Sunday.
The presidential election in Kazakhstan hasn’t reached the mark, the Head of ODIHR/OSCE observers Daan Everts declared reporting the preliminary results of election campaign monitoring.
Anxiety of the editorial office of Kazakhstan newspaper “Voice of Republic” (“Голос республики”), that the director of the editing-company Daniyar Moldashev disappeared for some reason is being confirmed.
The candidate Eleusizov has declared during the voting on April 3, that he and all his family will give their votes to Nazarbaev.
Incumbent president of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev according to preliminary information, won the election of the Head of the state that was held on April 3.
As the Geokz.tv website informed, the Public Health Department of the Eastern Kazakhstan District was given an assignment to organize the 100 % voter turnout of their employees.
The Journalists Protection Committee based in New York urges the Kazakhstan authorities to find Daniar Moldashev and ensure his safety.
Director of the publishing house Daniyar Moldashev is reported missing (probably abducted).
On 30 March 2011 the Pavlograd police qualified an attack with knives made by malefactors at Alga activists as a „disorderly conduct”.
On 30 March 2011 the Azattyk Radio Station explained in its official report „Questions of Azattyk website visitors to the President Nazarbaev” that the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev would not hold an online conference at Azattyk Radio Station.
On March 24th, 2011 the Central Election Committee (CEC) has accredited more than 860 international observers on presidential elections.
NSDP considers illegal the exclusion of Clause 8 of Article 43 of the Law on Elections from the authorities of Party representatives having an advisory vote regarding their right to obtain a copy of the protocol attested with signatures of head and secretary of an election commission.
In Kazakhstan struggle develops for compliance of fundamental law – the Constitution – by the incumbent administration of the country. Astana sees arrival of activists of an established public Committee “Let’s Defend the Constitution”.
Oleg Barvin was arrested only because he took part in an action connected with a meeting with a presidential candidate Nursltan Nazarbaev.
On April 1 of the current year, at 10.00 am, a trial will be held at the Almaty City Court, concerning the so-called “tax case” of Vladimir Kozlov, leader of the opposition People’s Party “Alga!”, in the state registration process.
The teachers of Uralsk schools were obliged to specify the lists of voters.
The Central Electoral Committee of Kazakhstan (CEC) does not agree with the facts of violations during electoral process found out by the mission of ODIHR/OSCE.
The co-coordinating committee of “Alga!” party made the statement about the activization of actions on party discredit.
By data for March 24th various state structures of the country received more than 50 complaints about the infringements of pre-election process.
On the morning of 3/22/2011 at railway stations of cities of Kokshetau, Kyzylorda, and Astana police officers have withdrawn posters and stickers calling citizens of Kazakhstan to boycott preterm presidential election coming on April 3rd.
On March 15th more than 500 active workers of “Let’s leave the housing to the people” and “For worthy housing” public organizations from different regions wanted to meet the presidential candidate for Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana.
The active workers of “Alga!” opposition party were assaulted on March 11th in Pavlodar.
April 3 the special Presidential Election will take place in Kazakhstan.
Some may say this is traditional Royal high jinks. But the charge sheet against Andrew is very long and it is undermining the valuable, diligent work of the rest of the Royal Family.
On March 11th the Central Electoral Commission asked the State Office of Public Prosecutor to check up on the information about these infringements.
New laws restrict online news media, shield government officials from scrutiny. OSCE chairman Kazakhstan undermines organization with repression at home.
Kazakhstan reminds me of Egypt or Tunisia, says Muratbek Ketabayev, President of Grazhdanskaya Aktivnost (Civil Activity) Kazakh Foundation.
Kazakhstan follows Tunisia and Egypt scenario by mind of the President Civic Activity Foundation Muratbek Ketebaeyv
More than half of 9 mn registered voters in Kazakhstan signed a petition earlier calling to hold a referendum to extend the President’s mandate.
Vzglyad newspaper (Ayna Ltd.) was charged the amount of 30 million 854 thousand 629 tenges.
Golos Respubliki (ADP Ltd.) was charged 12 million 803 thousand 530 tenges.
Azat and Alga newspapers (Kiyal Ltd.) were charged 26 million 298 thousand 250 tenges.
The purpose of the planned referendum is inconsistent with Kazakhstan’s international obligations and we hope the competent authorities will take the appropriate steps to stop this initiative.
The EU has condemned Kazakhstan parliament’s move to skip the 2012 presidential vote and hold a referendum instead extending the leader’s rule.
ZURICH. A criminal investigation in Switzerland has been opened into allegations of money laundering against Timur Kulibayev, son-in-law of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
ZhasCamp is the name of Kazakhstan youth conference, which was held in Almaty on October 8-10, 2010.
„Kazakhstan, is it you?” This question has launched the photo exhibition by a French artist Yuri Bilak in the Ogrod Saski in Warsaw on 28 September 2010.
