MEPs and human rights defenders: “Don’t hand Khassenov to Kazakhstan”

MEPs and human rights defenders: “Don’t hand Khassenov to Kazakhstan”

MEPs and prominent human rights defenders are calling on Lithuania not to make the mistake of handing Daniyar Khassenov over to Kazakhstan. Khassenov lives in Lithuania and is facing forced expulsion by a court decision. The deportation of Daniyar Khassenov from Lithuania was initiated by the Lithuanian Migration Department. Khassenov is known as a human […]

Italian court sentenced all the defendants for the abduction of Alma Shalabayeva and her 6-year-old daughter

Italian court sentenced all the defendants for the abduction of Alma Shalabayeva and her 6-year-old daughter

The criminal court of Perugia, Italy, has just delivered a long-awaited decision on Alma Shalabayeva’s case. On 14 October 2020, the Italian court sentenced to prison six Italian law-enforcement officers on ‘abduction’ charges and one justice of the peace for ‘forgery’. In 2013, Alma Shalabayeva, wife of Kazakhstani opposition leader and political refugee Mukhtar Ablyazov, […]

ODF welcomes former Kazakhstani political prisoner, Iskander Yerimbetov, in Geneva

ODF welcomes former Kazakhstani political prisoner, Iskander Yerimbetov, in Geneva

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 Case of Zhanara Akhmetova: Ukraine Is in Haste to Arrest and to Extradite Kazakhstani Journalist

The Case of Zhanara Akhmetova: Ukraine Is in Haste to Arrest and to Extradite Kazakhstani Journalist

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.

Exchange of views with DCAS MEPs on the human rights situation in Kazakhstan

Exchange of views with DCAS MEPs on the human rights situation in Kazakhstan

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.

The protection of political refugees and illegal extraditions: debate in Kyiv

The protection of political refugees and illegal extraditions: debate in Kyiv

On 10 December 2019, in Kyiv, a discussion was held on the topic: “How to protect political refugees from illegal extraditions and misuse of interstate legal assistance?”. The event was held as part of the 4th National Human Rights Non-Conference. The Open Dialogue Foundation, the Right to Protection Charitable Foundation, the Kharkov Institute of Social Studies, and the Human Rights Agenda Coalition were among the organisers of the event.

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

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

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

Unprecedented and unacceptable cooperation between Belgian authorities and Kazakhstan’s authoritarian regime

Unprecedented and unacceptable cooperation between Belgian authorities and Kazakhstan’s authoritarian regime

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 […]

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