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From Our Member Dignity – Kadyr-kassiyet (KK), Kazakhstan – Open Letter

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To the Head of the Senate Parliament
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Nazarbayeva Dariga

To the Head of the Supreme Court
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Mr.Assanov Zhakip

To the Minister of internal affairs
of Republic of Kazakhkstan
Mr.Turgumbayev Yerlan

Following the mass arbitrary restrictions of rights and freedoms of the people by state representatives in Nur-Sultan and Almaty on 9 and 10 June 2019, the undersigned civil society organizations and representatives call on you urgently to:

  • Put an immediate end to arbitrary detentions and enforced disappearances of individuals, in particular young people, as such acts by state officials violate Kazakhstan’s international obligations under the International Convention for the protection of all persons against enforced disappearances, which was ratified by Kazakhstan in 2006.
  • Ensure that all those detained on 9 and 10 June 2019 are given immediate access to the lawyer of their choice, as guaranteed by the Constitution of Kazakhstan (Article 13) and other legislation (Article 20 of the Administrative Code);
  • Ensure that those people detained are presumed innocent until found guilty, as guaranteed by Article 77 of the Constitution of the Republic, as without the right for the appeal of detainees took out of borders of the capital in defiance of Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
  • Ensure that those detained are not subjected to torture or ill-treatment and investigate reports that detainees in Nur-Sultan, including children, were held for up to 20-hours in various police buildings without access to food or water, a place to sleep, adequate seating (people were forced to stand) all of which violate the provisions of the UN Convention against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment of 10.12.1984 (further Convention against Torture).
  • Publish a complete list of the names of those people detained on 9 and 10 June, including those detainees who were transferred from by Nur-Sultan to nearby settlements in Arshaly (60 km from the capital), Temirtau (236 km from the capital), Akkol (100 km from the capital), Stepnogorsk (195 km from capital), and Kokshetau (300 km from the capital). The transferred detainees have been effectively held in incommunicado detention as they were not able to communicate with the outside world. This is a serious violation of one of the basic principles the Convention against Torture.
  • Cease the practice of holding court hearings at night and in police buildings as these violate the minimum guarantees of fair judicial proceedings by restricting publicity and transparency. This practic also violates the Syracuse principles of interpretation of restrictions and derogations from provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Signatures:

  1. Anara Ibrayeva, the founder of Public Association “Dignity”, Nur-Sultan city, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection
  2. Evgeny Tsay, chairman of the board of Public Association “Kamkorlyk”, Nur-Sultan city
  3. Zauresh Battalova, the president of PF “Fund of Parliamentary Development in Kazakhstan”, Nur-Sultan city, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  1. Nina Yerkayeva, the director of PA “Education and Development”, Karaganda, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  2. Galym Ageleuov, the president of PF “Liberty”, Almaty, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  3. Marianna Gurina, the president of PF “Ulagatty zhanuya “, Almaty, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  4. Alexander Danchev, the director of PA “Equal rights”, Petropavlovsk, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  5. Togzhan Kizatova, the vice-chairman of PA “People”, Atyrau, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  6. Vadim Nee, chairman Eco Forum of public organizations of Kazakhstan, Almaty
  7. Darya Ulzhagaliyeva, the chairman of PA “Society on Human Rights”, Atyrau, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  8. Indira Kakimova, the head of PA “Ariadna”, Ust-Kamenogorsk, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  9. Lukpan Akhmedyarov, the editor-in-chief of the “Uralskaya Nedelya” newspaper, Uralsk, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  10. Tatyana Bazhova, project manager of PF “Aman-saulyk”, Almaty
  11. Sergey Izmaylov, the chairman of PA “Public Human Rights Committee on the North Kazakhstan Area”, Petropavlovsk, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  12. Vladislav Shul, chairman of PA “Our Right”, Kokshetau
  13. Victor Teng, the head of PA “Taldykorgan Human Rights Center”, Taldykorgan, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  14. Rustam Zhantasov, head of PA “Public Monitoring Commission in Education”, Petropavlovsk
  15. Amangelda Shormanbayev, expert of PF “International Legal Initiative”, Almaty
  16. Aygul Malgeldinova, “What? Where? When?” Nur-Sultan city
  17. Zhanar Dzhandosova, PA “Sandzh”, Nur-Sultan city
  18. Maria Lobacheva, the program director in PA “Echo”, Almaty
  19. Ivan Sinenko, Youth Public Association “True equality”, Uralsk, the participant of Coalition on Human Rights Defenders security and protection activists
  20. Victoriya Tuleneva, HRD, Almaty
  21. Natalya Tomilova, head of PA “Mine-worker’s family”, Karaganda
  22. Khadicha Abysheva, director of PA «Sana sezim», Shymkent
  23. Diana Okremova, PA «Legal media center», Nur-Sultan
  24. Aydar Kappassov, PF «Human Health Institute», Nur-Sultan
  25. Sergey Solyanik, consultant of Crude Accountability, Almaty
  26. Turarbek Kussainov, the head of PA “Demos”, Atyrau
  27. Zhanar Nurmukhanova, director of PA «Taldykorgan regional centre to support of women», Taldykorgan
  28. Gulnur Idigeyeva, informational-consulting center «Daris», Aktobe
  29. Gulmira Birzhanova, PF «Legal media center», Nur-Sultan
  30. Serik Tenizbayev, PA «Consumers rights association », Kyzylorda
  31. Tatyana Chernobil, consultant on international human rights law, Almaty
  32. Zhaslan Suleimenov, bloger, civic activist, Nur-Sultan
  33. Zhana Nurkishev, civic activist, Nur-Sultan
  34. Nailya Chuikina, the head of public observation commission on Karaganda region, Zhezkazgan
  35. Georgy Arkhangelsky, pensioner, Almaty
  36. Zinaida Mukhortova, pensioner, Balkhash

INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

  1. Brigitte Dufour, director of International Partnership for Human Rights, Belgium
  2. Farangis Zikriyayeva, Germany

JOURNALISTS

  1. Botagoz Omarova
  2. Raul Uporov, newspaper «Uralsk week»

LAWYERS

  1. Djokhar Utebekov, Almaty
  2. Amanzhol Mukhamedyarov, Nur-Sultan
  3. Zhanargul Sundetkaliyeva, Atyrau
  4. Nurlan Rakhmanov, Almaty
  5. Galiya Aldiyarova, Shymkent
  6. Assel Tokayeva, Nur-Sultan

***

For a PDF version of this open letter, click here