Kazakhstan protests ‘far from over’, says human rights charity

International human rights charity Amnesty International have called on Kazakhstani authorities to release arbitrarily detained protestors and respect human rights amid ongoing unrest.

On Tuesday, Kazakhstan’s Interior Ministry said that almost 10,000 people have been arrested since mass unrest and violent clashes between police and protestors. More than 400 criminal cases have already been initiated.

According to the Prosecutor General, most of these criminal cases concern violence, including killings. However, in some cases of which Amnesty is aware, the Kazakhstani authorities have prosecuted peaceful dissent under the vague charge of “incitement of social discord.” This includes the opening of criminal proceedings under these charges in connection with a solitary street picket which environmental activist Artyom Sochnev held in Stepnogorsk on 4 January.

Kazakhstan’s unduly restrictive law governing public assemblies effectively bans any street protest unless expressly permitted by the local authorities. Under this legislation, thousands of Kazakhstanis who took part in peaceful protests in recent days are liable to arrest and fines or up to 15 days of detention.

The exact number of casualties in Kazakhstan resulting from the recent violence remains unknown. The authorities confirmed that at least 18 law enforcement officers had been killed but have so far failed to disclose the number of civilian casualties.

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“While the situation appears to have calmed down in Kazakhstan, the crisis is far from over. Nothing is more important now than free access to independent information, full accountability for what has happened and a commitment to respect human rights moving forward.

“The silence of the authorities regarding the number of victims and the circumstances of their death is outrageous. Information about civilian causalities must be disclosed immediately.

“We remain deeply concerned about the way President Tokayev has blamed journalists and human rights defenders on national television for inciting unrest – a narrative that has since been adopted by various people in positions of authority in Kazakhstan.

“We are extremely worried about the conditions of detention and the grounds for arrest of thousands of detainees. There are also missing individuals, including journalist Makhambet Abzhan, whose whereabouts remain unknown since 6 January.

“All those who have been arbitrarily detained merely for taking part in the protests must be immediately released. Protesters accused of committing internationally recognised crimes for violent behaviour must be provided with fair trials in accordance with international human rights law. Meanwhile, all reports of ill-treatment by officials must be effectively investigated, with those responsible held to account.”