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

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

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!

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 […]

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

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

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 […]

Kazakhstan: unprecedented acts of the regime’s terror against civilians and the Russian-led CSTO’s military intervention

Kazakhstan: unprecedented acts of the regime’s terror against civilians and the Russian-led CSTO’s military intervention

This report is based on data, video and photo materials from eyewitnesses, activists, human rights defenders, peaceful protesters from more than 60 cities and villages in Kazakhstan, where protests were held. It also contains references to statements of the US, the EEAS, international organisations such as the UN, the OSCE, media outlets. In order to ensure safety of eyewitnesses, their names are not mentioned. Co-authors of this report, Raigul Sadyrbayeva and Aiya Sadvakasova, have been arrested under politically motivated criminal cases for their human rights activities. The authors of this report express their gratitude for all informants and volunteers, who contributed to this report despite risking their lives and freedom. The authors of the report extend their condolences to families, relatives and friends of those who lost their lives during these mass repressions. We strongly believe that the truth must be unravelled and perpetrators must be held accountable.

Canadian MP urges targeted sanctions on Kazakhstani prison official

Canadian MP urges targeted sanctions on Kazakhstani prison official

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

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. 

Political prisoners and victims of political persecution in Kazakhstan

Political prisoners and victims of political persecution in Kazakhstan

1.  Introduction Tokayev’s deaf state After Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took over as President of Kazakhstan in 2019, he announced plans to implement the concept of a “listening state”, which means “supporting and strengthening civil society”. In September 2020, Tokayev stated that a priority issue for him was to “adopt new measures to protect human rights in […]

Bartosz Kramek: a bogus criminal investigation and arrest in Poland

Bartosz Kramek: a bogus criminal investigation and arrest in Poland

The Open Dialogue Foundation (ODF) is a human rights NGO established in 2009 in Poland, with its headquarters in Brussels since 2018. Before 2017 the Foundation was known in Poland for its support delivered to Ukraine during the Euromaidan revolution and in response to Russian aggression. In 2017 the NGO took a stance in defence […]

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

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

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 […]

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

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

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

Belgian Senator Mark Demesmaeker writes a letter in support of ODF Board member Bartosz Kramek

Belgian Senator Mark Demesmaeker writes a letter in support of ODF Board member Bartosz Kramek

In a letter addressed to the government of Belgium, Senator Mark Demesmaeker, member of the New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) and formerly Member of the European Parliament, has expressed his support for Bartosz Kramek and his opposition to the senseless and politically motivated persecution carried out by the Polish government against him and the Open Dialogue […]

GW: Kramek, you’ll never walk alone. Why does the arrest come now?

GW: Kramek, you’ll never walk alone. Why does the arrest come now?

19 people came to the District Court in Lublin to post PLN 300 thousand bail for Bartosz Kramek. – As I was leaving the jail, a prison guard wished me “good luck fighting the regime”. — I am grateful to all those who vouched for me, verbally and financially. Thank you and let’s keep fighting. […]

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