Members of the Expert Council of Kazakh Human Rights Defenders on
Determining the Status of Political Prisoners in Kazakhstan express their sincere
condolences to the family, friends and associates of Russian opposition politician
and political prisoner Alexei Navalny on the occasion of his death in Russia, in a
penal colony near the settlement of Kharp in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous
District, above the Arctic Circle.
His life after the beginning of his political activity, a time of severe poisoning,
politically motivated persecution, sentencing to long prison terms in trials that did
not meet the principles of fair trial, creation of unbearable prison conditions, which
ended with his death at the age of 47, showed once again the tragic fate of many
leaders of political opposition in authoritarian and totalitarian countries.
People like Navalny sacrifice their lives on the altar of the struggle against
totalitarianism and unchecked power, they have no defense, and all responsibility
for their deaths lies with the political regimes and their leaders.
But as human history has shown, most of the time, though unfortunately not
always, such sacrifices are not in vain, and sooner or later freedom, justice, and
democracy overcome tyranny, lawlessness, and obscurantism.
We can only hope that in this sense the death of Navalny will not have been in
vain.
Expert Council:
Galym Ageleuov
Lukpan Akhmedyarov
Zauresh Battalova
Gulmira Birzhanova
Anara Ibraeva
Yevgeniy Zhovtis
Yerlan Kaliev
BakhytzhanToregozhina
February 24, 2024, Republic of Kazakhstan
