Strengthening the axis of evil: Dictatorships against Ukraine

Strengthening the axis of evil: Dictatorships against Ukraine

Executive summary This report is the eighth in a series of reports on how third-party countries, especially Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, are assisting Russia in its war against Ukraine. This report focuses on:  the interim results of Western and Ukrainian policies towards Russia and recommendations for strengthening the effectiveness of sanctions mechanisms; analysing the consequences of […]

Svenska Yle: Finnish company exports radar apparatus usable by Russian military

Svenska Yle: Finnish company exports radar apparatus usable by Russian military

Svenska Yle reveals that a Finnish company has exported radar apparatus to Kazakhstan. However, there are several questions about this equipment. Has the radar equipment been transferred to Russia or is it being used by the Russian air force in Kazakhstan? At the beginning of 2023, Finnish customs received a 2.5-tonne consignment to be sent […]

The Globe & Mail: “Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report”

The Globe & Mail: “Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report”

In an article entitled “Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report” for The Globe & Mail, Steven Chase wrote about Russia evading sanctions imposed by Canada for its invasion of Ukraine through Central Asia. According to the World Liberty Congress, an alliance of pro-democracy activists from authoritarian countries co-founded in 2022 by the […]

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 […]

Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report

Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report

Read the full article on: theglobeandmail.com See our report: Russia’s Accomplices in the War Against Ukraine: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Army’s Reliable Rear (May 9, 2023) and also: Jan Rymszewicz: The Globe & Mail: “Russia circumventing Canadian sanctions to buy mine detonators: report” (January 12, 2024)

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 […]

Russia’s Decade-Long War Against Ukraine: How to Accelerate Ukrainian Victory

Russia’s Decade-Long War Against Ukraine: How to Accelerate Ukrainian Victory

Executive Summary This report is the sixth in a series of reports on how Russia circumvents sanctions with the help of Central Asian countries, particularly by way of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The subject of this report is an analysis of global trends and facts that point to Russia’s ability to accumulate sufficient resources for at […]

Russia’s Accomplices in the War Against Ukraine: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Army’s Reliable Rear

Russia’s Accomplices in the War Against Ukraine: Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Army’s Reliable Rear

Executive summary To analyse Kyrgyzstan’s capacity to help Russia circumvent sanctions, it is important to consider the internal political situation in Kyrgyzstan under President Sadyr Japarov. Kyrgyzstan has long been considered an “island of freedom” in Central Asia, with a number of independent media outlets, independent MPs and an active civil society. However, the authoritarian […]

Kremlin’s Secret Ally. How Tokayev is Helping Putin Circumvent Sanctions

Kremlin’s Secret Ally. How Tokayev is Helping Putin Circumvent Sanctions

1. Introduction After Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Kazakhstani authorities stated that Kazakhstan “respects the territorial integrity of Ukraine” and “has not and will not recognise both the situation with Crimea and the situation with Donbass” [1], [2]. In June 2022, President Tokayev declared non-recognition of the so-called “LPR” […]

NO to trade with Russia! Blockade on the Polish-Belarusian border

NO to trade with Russia! Blockade on the Polish-Belarusian border

At 9:00 a.m. today, we started a blockade of trucks at the Polish-Belarusian border crossing in Kukuryki. We demand to stop trade between the EU and Russia immediately, because every product, every euro that feeds the Russian economy, is killing Ukrainians. We have the power to stop it! We call on all Poles, opinion leaders […]

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.

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 […]

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