The case of Marat Danebayev: Brother of Kazakhstani political prisoner at risk of persecution

The case of Marat Danebayev: Brother of Kazakhstani political prisoner at risk of persecution

29.01.2024

Marat Danebayev – is a brother of a prominent Kazakhstani political prisoner Timur Danebayev. Marat Danebayev faced the risk of politically motivated persecution in Kazakhstan because he publicly covering the facts of ongoing repression against his brother, who is not receiving necessary medical care and is being held in unacceptable conditions. Marat was forced to […]

”Bitcoin is borderless” Conference — how to combat financial exclusion worldwide?

”Bitcoin is borderless” Conference — how to combat financial exclusion worldwide?

15.10.2023

Lyudmyla Kozlovska, President of the Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF), participated in the Bitcoin Amsterdam Conference, which took place from 12 to 14 October 2023. During the panel discussion at the conference Bitcoin is borderless, she shared her story of how Bitcoin allowed her to fight for human rights, help Ukraine during the war, and deal […]

How Bitcoin became a tool for NGOs — an interview with Lyudmyla Kozlovska

How Bitcoin became a tool for NGOs — an interview with Lyudmyla Kozlovska

06.10.2023

On 5 October 2023, webeconomy.info published an interview with Lyudmyla Kozlovska, President of the Open Dialogue Foundation, on solving the problem of people and NGOs excluded from the financial system. She talked about how Bitcoin has become a tool for defending human rights, delivering humanitarian aid and surviving in the face of political persecution. It […]

The Kwasniewskis, Michnik, Machinska, Holland appeal: Release Mikheil Saakashvili!

The Kwasniewskis, Michnik, Machinska, Holland appeal: Release Mikheil Saakashvili!

12.09.2023

The initiators of an appeal to the Georgian President to grant pardon to the country’s former President Mikheil Saakashvili are raising the alarm: Saakashvili may soon die. He has recently lost 56 kg and his body is paralysed by “excruciating pain”. “We demand that Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili pardon former President Mikheil Saakashvili due to […]

Repressions and Political Prisoners in Tokayev’s “New Kazakhstan”

Repressions and Political Prisoners in Tokayev’s “New Kazakhstan”

18.08.2023

Disclamer This report provides an overview of political persecution and human rights violations in Kazakhstan, as well as a list of political prisoners in Kazakhstan. The information presented in this report was collected with the assistance of Kazakhstani human rights defenders and civil activists. In addition, the report is based on data provided by victims […]

Free Mikheil Saakashvili!

Free Mikheil Saakashvili!

27.07.2023

The Georgian authorities have launched a politically motivated trial against Mikheil Saakashvili, a Ukrainian politician and former President of Georgia. Ukraine is demanding that the charges be dropped and its citizen released immediately. There is no doubt that the detention of the former President and the proceedings against him are yet another manifestation of the […]

“Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom” — Lyudmyla Kozlovska at Plan ₿ Forum 2022

“Bitcoin as a tool for financial freedom” — Lyudmyla Kozlovska at Plan ₿ Forum 2022

22.10.2022

On 20–21 October 2022, the Plan ₿ Forum explored the theme of financial freedom facilitated by Bitcoin in the Swiss city of Lugano. Lyudmyla Kozlovska, the President of the Open Dialogue Foundation, actively participated in a panel discussion during the event. The panel, moderated by Farida Nabourema, Executive Director of the Togolese Civil League, also […]

KAZAKHSTAN: The List of Political Prisoners and Other Victims of Political Persecutions

KAZAKHSTAN: The List of Political Prisoners and Other Victims of Political Persecutions

20.10.2022

Disclaimer: This brief contains lists of political prisoners, victims of torture and mass shooting in January 2022, victims of political persecution, including Kazakhstani human rights defenders, and Karakalpakstani civil activists (at risk of extradition to Uzbekistan) – identified by human rights defenders. The lists are not exhaustive. The information provided in this brief has been […]

ODF and 10 partners release an appeal about protests in Kazakhstan

ODF and 10 partners release an appeal about protests in Kazakhstan

05.01.2022

On 5 January 2022, 10 Human Rights NGOs, including the Open Dialogue Foundation, issued an appeal on the current protests taking place in Kazakhstan. Against the backdrop of the massive street protests against the government and the Nazarbayev regime, which were met with widespread repression, ODF and its partners have condemned the government’s violence and […]

Canadian MP urges targeted sanctions on Kazakhstani prison official

Canadian MP urges targeted sanctions on Kazakhstani prison official

02.12.2021

Canadian MP and freedom fighter Tom Kmiec has appealed for intervention to the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michael Chong, drawing his attention to gross human rights violations during the detention of the political prisoner Iskander Yerimbetov. Based on the passage of Canada’s Magnitsky legislation, the Canadian MP has urged the Minister to impose targeted sanctions on Azamat Iztleuov, a prison official responsible for continued abuse of human rights in Kazakhstan. Iztleuov has participated in designating certain prisoners for abuse and torture including Yerimbetov. He has also removed the video surveillance equipment from the cell in which Yerimbetov was tortured, and has further denied him the right to counsel and medical treatment.

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

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

03.11.2021

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

Malicious Prosecution by the Polish Public Prosecutor’s Office

Malicious Prosecution by the Polish Public Prosecutor’s Office

16.08.2021

Since the Law and Justice (PiS)-led United Right coalition (composed of PiS and its two minor partners – Solidarna Polska and Porozumienie) took power in 2015, we have witnessed an unprecedented level of politicization of the public prosecution service that has been transformed into a tool serving political and personal interests of the ruling camp and its members. This resulted in a growing number of politically motivated cases of investigations carried out against those regarded as opponents of the government. The continuous changes to the criminal justice system (Criminal Code, Code of Criminal Procedure, Law on the Prosecutor’s Service) expand the powers of the prosecution, amplifying the so-called inequality of arms between the sides of the criminal proceedings and a general repressiveness of the system.

Italian politicians ask Kazakhstan’s ambassador for a meeting with political prisoner Bekizhan Mendygaziyev

Italian politicians ask Kazakhstan’s ambassador for a meeting with political prisoner Bekizhan Mendygaziyev

02.08.2021

On 30 July, Roberto Rampi, Member of the Italian Senate, together with Riccardo Magi and Mauro Del Barba, Members of the Chamber of Deputies, sent a letter to Kazakhstan’s ambassador to Italy, H.E. Sembayev Yerbolat, demanding an online meeting with political prisoner Bekizhan Mendygaziev. In the letter the Italian representatives have expressed their concern for […]

A trap. Interview with Bartosz Kramek for the ‘Asymetryści’ website

A trap. Interview with Bartosz Kramek for the ‘Asymetryści’ website

25.07.2021

The Head of the Open Dialogue Foundation Board has been hunted by Poland’s secret services ever since he posted an online manifesto calling for a peaceful overthrow of the authoritarian rule of the PiS party. The foundation, which has gained recognition for its fight for human rights and democracy in post-Soviet countries, had to move […]

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