Tag: Kazakhstan

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 Dialogue Foundation

On 30 April, 2013, an eight-day mission of the Supreme Bar Council to Kazakhstan came to an end. The Open Dialogue 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

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

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 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.

On 16 April, 2013, from 11.00 a.m. to 12.30 a.m. in the office of the organisation ‘Reporters without Borders’ (Reporter ohne Grenzen), Bryukkenshtr. 4, 10179 Berlin, a meeting with the press representatives from Kazakhstan will be held

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

06.03.2013 – 18.03.2013

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.