** The report of human rights activists speaks of dozens of arbitrary cases of arrests of peaceful demonstrators in Kazakhstan and the cruelty to protesters.HRW demands to hold guilty accountable. **
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) international human rights organization on Tuesday, February 1, appealed to the Kazakhstan authorities to immediately stop the persecution of peaceful protests and activists, free those who are still in custody, and put an end to beating and cruel circulation with the detainees.
The statement of human rights activists says that HRW received “deserving messages” about dozens of arbitrary cases of detention in Kazakhstan and that some of the peaceful protesters underwent poorly circulation and torture, including with the use of electric shock and batons.The report also claims that the Kazakh authorities prevented lawyer access to the detainees after protesting in early January 2022.
President Tokaev rejected the proposal for an international investigation
Human Rights Watch called on the authorities of Kazakhstan to conduct a quick, independent and effective investigation of all statements about human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions, cruelty, torture, death in conclusion and illegal murders.All those responsible for violations should be held accountable.HRW also demanded that human rights activists have access to the country who could observe the position of people detained during January protests and unrest.
“The leadership of Kazakhstan should immediately stop abuses, ensure the protection of the rights of each detainee and bring to justice those who tortured and beat them,” said Human Rights Watch, the director of the Europe and Central Asia, Hugh Williamson.
The European parliament previously demanded an independent investigation.In the resolution of the European Parliament of January 20, “mass acts of violence that followed peaceful protests”, and “inflammatory rhetoric of President Tokayev”, which declared all the protesters, including peaceful ones, “terrorists” were decisively condemned.In response, the head of state Kasym-Zhomart Tokaev rejected the proposal to conduct an international investigation of what happened.“I do not consider it necessary to conduct such an investigation, we can do it ourselves,” he said on Saturday, January 29, in an interview with the state television channel Khabar24.
Protests and riots in Kazakhstan
In early January, rallies began in Zhanaozen in the West of Kazakhstan against a sharp increase in liquefied gas prices, they quickly grew into mass protests throughout the country with economic and political requirements.In some regions, on the night of January 5, pogroms, attacks on administrative buildings, police branches, shops began.The largest city of Kazakhstan - Almaty was more affected than others.According to the authorities, during the riots 225 people were killed, including 19 representatives of law enforcement agencies, more than 4,500 people were injured.In connection with protests and riots, more than 2,700 people were detained only in the former capital.
President Kasim-Zhomart Tokaev resigned the government and introduced a state of emergency in the country.On January 6, an armed contingent arrived in Kazakhstan at his request to help “in overcoming a terrorist threat.”In mid -January, the CSTO forces left Kazakhstan, and at the end of January the parliament abolished the lifelong chairmanship of Nursultan Nazarbayev in the Security Council and in the Assembly of the people of Kazakhstan (ANC).In addition, a number of relatives of the ex-president left the leading posts in the state apparatus and the economy.