Appeal to the European Union and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe

Appeal

to the European Union and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from Civil Society Representatives in the Republic of Kazakhstan

As representatives of Kazakhstan’s independent civil society, we appeal to the institutions of the European Union and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) regarding the arrest of Kazakh citizen Anuar Bakibay. Bakibay is the assistant military attaché of Kazakhstan in Ukraine and was detained in Poland on charges of spying for the Russian Federation.

This arrest provides direct evidence of what we have been saying for years. Kazakhstan’s security services remain systematically dependent on the Kremlin and often act in the interests of Russian structures, including intelligence and hybrid operations.

Anuar Bakibay is not your average diplomat. A graduate of the Kazakh Ministry of Defense’s military academy, he is an accredited officer in Ukraine. His activities reflect the longstanding practice of Kazakh military intelligence performing auxiliary functions for Russia’s GRU (Main Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) and SVR (Foreign Intelligence Service).

The fact that the Polish authorities detained him on charges of gathering information about NATO military facilities provides Europe with irrefutable confirmation that Kazakhstan is engaged in activities that threaten European interests.

Meanwhile, the Kazakh authorities continue to suppress dissent within the country. Journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society activists face criminal prosecution, torture, and unlawful sentencing. The courts remain closed, and authorities continue to imprison dozens of political prisoners. Akorda’s methods are similar to those of the Kremlin. They create an image of an “internal enemy”, fabricate cases, and use the security services as a tool of repression. We believe that the European Union, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and EU governments should not help the Akorda regime rescue its officer accused of espionage unless Kazakhstan makes reciprocal moves.

We believe that any assistance in the case of Anuar Bakibay should be directly connected to the release of Kazakh political prisoners. First and foremost, these are Marat Zhylanbayev, Duman Mukhammedkarim, Aigerim Tleuzhanova, Aslan Utepov, Yerzhan Yelshibaev, Aidar Syzdykov, Danat Namazbayeva, Daniyar Adilbekova, Makhambet Abzhan, and other prisoners of conscience whose names are included in the lists of human rights organizations.

WE CALL ON:

1. State publicly that Anuar Bakibay is not a “diplomat in need of protection”, but rather, is part of an intelligence network linked to Russia.

2. Any negotiations or contacts regarding the case of Anuar Bakibay should be contingent on the release of all Kazakh political prisoners.

3. The level of access granted to Kazakh diplomats and military attaches in EU countries should be reviewed, taking into account the risks of their involvement in the activities of Russian special services.

4. Initiate the issue of sanctions against the leadership of the National Security Committee of Kazakhstan, as a structure cooperating with the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation.

Tokayev’s regime remains an ally of the Kremlin when it comes to special services and repression.He imprisons his citizens, and his officers act against Europe.

We appeal to European institutions: Do not act as intermediaries between dictatorship and justice. Make the price of any cooperation with Akorda the freedom of Kazakhstan’s political prisoners.

Signatures:

Akhmedyarov Lukpan, journalist, winner of the Peter Macler Award

Agelueov Galym, human rights defender, president of the Liberty public association

Aspandiyarova Marzhan, human rights defender, public figure

Bokai Max, public figure, former political prisoner

Meirzhan Doskarayev, lawyer for political prisoner Marat Zhylanbayev

Dinara Yegeyubaeva, independent journalist

Kanat Ibragimov, Kazakh artist

Galym Nurpeisov, lawyer for political prisoner Duman Mukhammedkarim

Irina Petrusheva, editor-in-chief of Respublika.kz.media

Vladimir Kozlov, former political prisoner

Natalya Sadykova, co-founder of the online media outlet BASE