18 March, Brussels (Belgium) As the trial of 19 activists affiliated with the Atajurt movement nears its conclusion, International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR) and Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR) renew their call on Kazakhstan’s authorities to drop the charges against the activists and release them. The trial, held before the Enbekshikazakh District Court of Almaty Region, began on 23 January 2026 in the city of Taldykorgan in Zhetysu Region. After a request from one defendant citing security concerns, the court ordered the proceedings to be held behind closed doors, although the other 18 defendants were in favour of a public hearing. The closed process severely limits transparency and reinforces concerns about the fairness of the trial, with participants prohibited from disclosing details about the proceedings. Family members have had only limited opportunities to attend hearings in the capacity of public defence representatives, although the participation of such representatives is guaranteed by law. In addition, because the trial is being held several hours away from Almaty Region, where the protest took place and the activists live, participants have had to travel long distances for each hearing. There are also serious concerns about the health and well-being of activists held in pre-trial detention amid reports of inadequate conditions, the deterioration of pre-existing medical issues, and lack of access to appropriate medical care. According to relatives and co-activists, Batylbek Baigazy has completely lost his eyesight, while Bakytnur Nurmukhan has suffered severe hearing loss. Tursynbek Kabiy has reportedly not received the medical assistance needed for health problems linked to torture he was allegedly subjected to in a Chinese internment camp. For more information on the background and context of the case against Atajurt activists, see our earlier joint statement and our recent briefing on civic space trends in Kazakhstan.
IPHR Международное партнерство по правам человека
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