MONITORING OF POLITICAL PERSECUTION IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN FROM DECEMBER 1 TO DECEMBER 31, 2021

On December 1, the courts considered the civil claims of the public fund “Ar-Bedel” against civil activists A. Mubarakov, A. Akisheva, M. Zhylanbaev, N. Tastayev for causing of harm» and “spreading the information discrediting the honor and dignity” of N. Nazarbayev and K. Tokayev under Art. 918 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan[1].
On December 1, in Mangistau region, Tupkaragan district, the 2nd largest strike of workers of Karazhanbasmunai JSC began demanding better working conditions and higher wages[2].

On December 1, in Uralsk, Nadezhda Solodovnikova held a single picket in the square named after Manshuk Mametova. She demands to return her and 50 other families the right to their property after their housing was demolished[3].

On December 1, the Almaty city akimat refused the activists of feminist movements to hold a march and rally for women’s rights on March 8, 2022. The reason for the refusal was the fact that cultural and entertainment events were planned to be held on that day [4].

On December 1, in Aktau, Turdiyeva Ulbolsyn, a human rights activist and volunteer of the FeminaVirtute group, was informed by a former colleague that there were rumors about her death actively spreading in her former workplace[5].

On December 1, in Nur-Sultan city, activists Kendzhibekov Aset and Matai Almaz were fined under Article 667, Part 1 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the amount of 5 MCIs according to the official’s report.

On December 2, in Almaty, Zhanel Shakhanova, an activist from the unregistered “Oyan Kazakhstan” movement, reported that she has received a threatening letter after she read the poem of the poet and dissident Aron Atabek at a memorial event dedicated to him which was held near the monument to Abay[6].

On December 2, in Almaty, Ilyashev Alnur lodged a complaint with the Prosecutor General’s Office requesting that the results of the 2019 presidential election be verified and that an investigation be initiated and that N. Nazarbayev and K. Tokayev be granted the status of witnesses with the right to a defense[7].

On December 2, in Nur-Sultan, Meiram Ayubayev, Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the Criminal Executive System of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan (KUIS), said, “The Committee does not accept any responsibility for the death of Aron Atabek”[8].

December 2, Almaty, “In 4 months from August to November 2021 there were 22 people convicted in Kazakhstan on politically motivated charges under Article 405, Part 1/2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. All those convicted for real terms were recognized as political prisoners,” reported B. Toregozhina, human rights activis[9].

On December 2, in Almaty, activists holding rallies at the Chinese consulate with a demand to release their family members from the «camps» in Xinjiang were again detained[10].

On December 2-3, the European Union and the Republic of Kazakhstan held online the 13th Human Rights Dialogue and the 19th Sub-Committee on Justice and Home Affairs. The discussions followed President Tokayev’s recent first official visit to Brussels[11].

On December 3, in Nur-Sultan, the rally “For the rights of persons with disabilities” was held, demanding that the EU sanction be imposed on the Kazakhstani ministers of labor, health and internal affairs. People also demanded the resignation of the government and the akim of Nur-Sultan Altai Kulginov. Before the rally began, unknown persons in civilian clothes tried to block the organizers of the rally outside their houses[12].

On December 3, Canadian MP Tom Kmiec has urged the Canadian foreign minister to impose targeted sanctions (Magnitsky sanctions) on Azamat Iztleuov, the Deputy Head of the Department of the Criminal Execution System of Almaty, for committing gross human rights violations[13].

On December 3, in Uralsk, the city Akimat refused the activists Utebaev B. and Eskendirova M. to hold peaceful assemblies on December 12, 16 and 18 for the reason that cultural, festive and sports events were planned to be held on these days[14].

On December 3, in Almaty, Mamay Zhanbolat was fined 14585 tenge under Article 669 part 1 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for failure to comply with a court sentence to remove information about his investigation of the Deputy Chairman of Nur-Otan party B. Baibek.

On December 4, in Almaty, Niyazbek Yusupov and Keneskhan Akerke were sentenced to 15 days of administrative arrest under Article 488, Part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for their participation in an unauthorized peaceful assembly in front of the InterContinental Almaty hotel on October 5, 2021.

On December 5, in Almaty, Muslim Sapargaliev, Murat Nurlanov and Aidar Mubarakov were sentenced to 15 days of arrest under Article 488, Part 6 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participating in a rally and march on the Valikhanov square on November 27, 2021[15].

On December 5, in Talgar city, Karayev Asylbek was sentenced to 15 days of arrest under Article 488 part 7 of the Administrative Offences Code of the RK for calling citizens to participate in the march on December 16, 2021.He He made the appeal during his speech in the Ak Saray restaurant on November 26, 2021.

On December 6, in Aktobe, the akimat of the city denied Smirnova Olgev permission to hold a second picket demanding «To lower the age of retirement». The reason for the refusal was the call to support the picket in the Internet social networks, the officials believe it could have led to a violation of public order [16].

On December 6, in Almaty, Sharipov Darkhan held a solitary picket demanding to simplify the conditions for using money in the pension fund and to lower the pension «sufficiency threshold». The activist appeared with a poster at the office of the Unified Pension Savings Fund (UPSF).[17]

On December 6, in Brussels, a meeting of the subcommittee on human rights in Kazakhstan took place in the European Parliament. Reports on recent human rights developments in Kazakhstan and the follow-up to the EU-Kazakhstan Human Rights Dialogue of December 2, 2021 were presented[18].

On December 6, the human rights group «Activists Not Extremists» presented the results of its monitoring of human rights violations from November 29 to December 5, 2021[19].

On December 6, in Nur-Sultan, Zakirova Sanovar, sent a notification to the akimat for holding a march on December 16, 2021, on the topic «To strip Nazarbayev of his status as Yelbas, as he does not deserve this title,» and was refused [20].

On December 6, in Uralsk, more than 50 owners of septic pumper trucks held an action and suspended their work because the drainage station in the area of the second workers’ settlement has not been working for three months. Because the station was closed, they had to raise the price of their services twofold, since it was unprofitable to go to the other end of town to dump sewage[21].

On December 6, before Independence Day on December 16, 2021, a list of persecuted activists was published[22].

On December 6, in Aksu, Pavlodar region, the akimat refused activist Yembergen Kurmanov to hold a solitary picket because the notification was made incorrectly [23].

On December 6, in Almaty, the human rights activist B. Toregozhina said: “On the eve of the Independence Day they started detaining activists. The reason for detention is the upcoming 30th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and each year our authorities, and it is repeated from year to year, make preventive detentions, so (activists) do not mar and spoil their festivities”[24].

On December 6, in Almaty, about a hundred people gathered in front of the Agency for the Regulation and Development of the Financial Market, with a request to repay their loans [25].

On December 6, MEP Róża Thun expressed concern about the human rights situation in Kazakhstan: “Political prisoners continue to rot in the custody, being subjected to torture. Elvira Azimova — Kazakhstan’s Commissioner for Human Rights, confuses us and tells us stories about some sort of dialogue with the opposition. There is no dialogue between the government and the opposition. It’s not enough to say fine words when it comes to democracy and human rights. I demand specific data: with whom the Kazakh government negotiates among the opposition. How many political prisoners were released from prison?”[26].

On December 6, during the session of the subcommittee on human rights, MEP Nacho Amor said following the speeches of EU diplomats and Ombudsman Azimova: “The situation with Afghanistan and its neighbors and the need for a transport corridor to address the crisis in Afghanistan are discussed most often. One might get the impression that these topics prevail over the importance to discuss issues of compliance with human rights obligations in Kazakhstan”[27].

On December 6, the blocked Kazakhstani website Kuresker.org reports that from November 5 to December 6, three significant events took place: the rally on November 20, which was not held, the death of Aron Atabek, the ongoing run-up to the Independence Day in Kazakhstan (December 16)[28].

On December 7, in Shymkent, Fayzullaev Yerlan was placed under administrative arrest for 15 days under Article 488, Part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participating in an unauthorized rally in front of the Valikhanov monument in Almaty on November 27[29].

On December 7, in Almaty, the Committee for the Protection of Aron Atabek stated that «the dissident has alerted the authorities about the explosive situation in Shanyrak. He has called on the government of Kazakhstan not to exacerbate the situation in the city’s periphery, acting as a mediator between the residents of the houses about to be demolished and the authorities. 55 days before the Shanyrak events, Atabek told MPs that the issue had to be resolved peacefully[30].

On December 7, in Almaty, human rights activists Toregozhina and Ageleuov sued the Almaty akimat for the rejection of an application to hold a peaceful march and charged the officials for their selective approach in the issuance of permits for rallies[31].

On December 7, in Alamaty, Ilyashev Alnur, filed a claim to the Medeu district court against the Unified Pension Savings Fund and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. The basis of the claim was the fact that the Ministry and the UPSF did not notify citizens in advance about the upcoming increase in the level of the “sufficiency threshold”[32].

On December 7, in Nur-Sultan, Kenzin Ilshat received a “warning” under Article 505 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for holding an authorized picket “Against the arbitrariness of the judicial authorities” in front of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On the same day, he had planned to hold another similar action near the office of the General Prosecutor’s Office of Kazakhstan, but he was unable to do so because he was detained by the police[33].

On December 7, in Nur-Sultan, President K. Tokayev has signed the law “On amnesty on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. Diplomats of the RK Ministry of Foreign Affairs report that “according to preliminary calculations, 2,236 convicts and 11,310 people registered with the probation service will be included in the amnesty. About 1,000 people will be released first, and 3,800 people will be removed from the probation service registry”[34].

On December 7, in Bishkek, the Fifth Coordination Meeting of the International Labour Rights Monitoring Mission demanded that political prisoner Yelshibayev Yerzhan be released and that all sentences passed against trade union leaders Kushakbayev Nurbek, Yeleusinov Amin, Kharkova Larisa be overturned without delay. They also demanded to re-examine the cases and fully rehabilitate Roza Tuletayeva and Maksat Dosmagambetov (posthumously)[35].

On December 7, in Nur-Sultan, Musabayev Marat was arrested for 15 days under Article 488 part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for his participation in a peaceful protest near the Embassy of the European Union on 5 October 2021. On December 8, in Almaty, Yermekbai Nurzat and Khalida Akytkhan, demanding the release of their family members imprisoned in China’s Xinjiang region, were detained again after they displayed posters and demanded the release of their relatives[36].

On December 8, in Almaty, the probation service submitted a motion to the court, requesting that the activist Serikzhan Bilyash be put on the wanted list and a preventive measure of “arrest” be selected. The hearing is scheduled for December 14, 2021, in the Alatau district court[37]. The court rejected the motion.

On December 8, the UN Human Rights Committee recommended that the government of Kazakhstan pay compensation to the family of journalist Sharip Kurakbayev for the 2013 suspension of Pravda Kazakhstana newspaper and legal battles[38].

On December 8, in Almaty, human rights activist B. Toregozhina demanded an immediate response from Ombudsman Azimova to human rights violations, since persecution of citizens on spurious grounds began in various cities on the eve of the 30th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which is celebrated on December 16-17[39].

On December 8, Sagintayev, Akim of Almaty, said about the rallies near the consulate of China: “Every day they go out and violate public order”[40].

On December 8, Akim of Almaty refused Ilyashev Alnur to hold a picket “Hello, Nazarbayev”. The reason for the refusal was the fact that Ilyashev on June 22, 2020 was sentenced by the court to 3 years of restriction of liberty and prohibition to engage in social activities[41].

On December 8, in Almaty, the Ecological Society Zelenoye Spaseniye (Green Salvation) has submitted a lawsuit against the city’s akimat because of the fact that the executive body does not establish a protective zone around the Ile-Alatau National Park[42].

On December 8, journalist Maricheva Jamilya, the author of the Protenge project, won the Anticorruption Champions Award, a prize instituted by the U.S. Department of State. The prize is awarded to individuals who “have demonstrated leadership, courage, and impact in preventing, exposing, and combating corruption”[43].

On December 8, in Nur-Sultan city, Sembai Askar was sentenced to 15 days of arrest under Article 488, Part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participating in a rally on Kosmonavtov Street near the EU Embassy on October 5, 2021.

On December 8, in Almaty, Aimukhametova Saule was sentenced to 15 days of arrest under Article 488, Part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participating in a picket on Abay Square on November 28, 2021.

On December 9, Mubarakov Aidar (Almaty), Faizullaev Erlan (Shymkent), who were arrested for 15 days under Article 488, Part 6 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for their participation in a peaceful rally on November 27, 2021, went on hunger strike in protest against the court decision and violation of their rights[44].

On December 9, in Almaty, it was found that the phones of “Oyan Kazakhstan” activists Ospanova Tamina, Alzhanov Dimash, Sharipov Darkhan and Abilseit Aizat were infected with the “Pegasus” spyware of NSO Group as reported by Amnesty International. The organization has performed a forensic examination of the smartphones of nine Kazakhstani human rights defenders, and four of those smartphones have been hacked between June 3 and 5 of this year[45].

On December 9, in Almaty, the appeal of human rights activists Toregozhina and Ageleuov regarding marches on November 20 and December 11 was dismissed by the court. The reason for the rejection was the decision of the chief sanitary doctor of Almaty, which imposed a ban on entertainment and cultural mass events in the city. Also, the Department of Urban Mobility has planned to perform repair and installation work at the place of the march[46].

On December 9, in Almaty, a journalist of Orda.kz website was not admitted to the court session on the case where Akim of Almaty B. Sagintayev is mentioned. ABM-Building 2007 that renovates the street lighting of Almaty under the PPP program filed a suit against the Akimat of the city. Based on the decision of the judge, who referred to trade secrets, the court was held in camera[47].

On December 9, in Nur-Sultan, Blyalov Bolatbek was arrested for 15 days under Article 488, Part 7 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for his participation in the rally “For the rights of persons with disabilities” on December 3[48].

On December 9, in Uralsk, Nadezhda Solodovnikova was detained on her way to the First President Square on suspicion of organizing a picket the day of the Majilis Speaker Nigmatullin’s visit[49].

On December 10, Human Rights Watch (HRW), an international human rights organization, called on Kazakhstan to authorize a women’s march in Almaty and noted that «the decision by Almaty authorities refusing to hold the Women’s March on March 8, 2022 shows the indifference of the authorities to women’s rights, including the serious problem of domestic violence[50].

On December 10, in Atyrau, Max Bokayev held a solitary picket in the central square of the city, demanding the release of political prisoners. He held a poster in his hands that said: «Freedom to political prisoners» and demanded to release Kurmangazy Utegenov, who was sentenced to 19.5 years. There were 7 people in the square with him[51].

On December 10, in Almaty, the Astana Inter Hotel refused Zhanbolat Mamay to provide space for the screening of a film dedicated to the events in Zhanaozen in 2011. The reason for the refusal was a deterioration in the epidemiological situation in the city[52].

December 10, Almaty, Kazakhstan will be the subject of new complaints to the UN for human rights violations, human rights activist Toregozhina Bakhytzhan has stated[53].

On December 10, the press service of the Ombudsman E. Azimova reported: the Commissioner for Human Rights received 1,614 appeals in 2021. There were 298 complaints against the action or inaction of prosecutors and police officials, 215 appeals against judicial decisions, and 655 criminal cases were initiated under the article “torture”. Seven officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs were convicted under this article; one of them was a correctional officer[54].

On December 10, in Almaty, on the “Human Rights Day”, the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights has launched an information campaign in support of political prisoners in Kazakhstan[55].

On December 10, in Almaty, the akimat refused Shegebekuly Nurtai and Imangaliyeva Bibigul to hold a rally “Freedom to political prisoners, implementation of the European Parliament resolution of 11 February 2021 on the human rights situation in Kazakhstan” on December 16, 2021. Reason for refusal: “outdoor events where it is not possible to provide «Ashyq» service and control access to the event for participants with «green» status and their quantity, are still prohibited”[56].

On December 10, in Mangistau village, Mangistau region, Turdiyeva Ulbosyn was fined 145,850 tenge under Article 488, Part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of Kazakhstan for calling a rally on December 16 in the Facebook social network.

On December 12, Nurkanov Ruslan (village of Aiyrtau, East Kazakhstan region) and Yesilbekov Berdibek (city of Almaty) were sentenced to 15 days of arrest under Article 488, Part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for their participation in a rally on Valikhanov Square in Almaty on November 27, 2021.

On December 13, in Nur-Sultan, about 40 tower crane operators said they would call a general strike if four demands were not met: higher wages, the resignation of the president and government, lowering the age of retirement, and a ban on importing labor from abroad[57].

On December 13, in Nur-Sultan, the Office of Ombudsman Azimova declined the request to visit Mubarakov Aidar and Faizullayev Erlan who had been on hunger strike while under arrest[58].

On December 13, in Nur-Sultan, Blyalova Akmaral, the spouse of Bolatbek Blyalova, who was sentenced to 15 days of arrest under Article 488, Part 7 of the Administrative Offences Code of Kazakhstan, picketed the General Prosecutor’s Office in protest against the court decision[59].

On December 13, in Nur-Sultan city, Seidakhmetova Saule, was sentenced to 10 days of arrest under Art.488 part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participating in the action in the Linear park of the capital; Seidakhmetova Saule repeatedly participated in the action within a year after the imposition of an administrative penalty[60].

On December 14, in Almaty, there was a press-conference in defense of the journalist Tatyana Kovaleva, against whom the judge of the Military Court of Kazakhstan made a special judicial ruling stating that the journalist had allegedly violated the objectivity principle and had influenced the court. As punishment, the judge recommended the Ministry of Information and Public Development (MIPD) to respond. In its turn, MIPD “recommended” to the editorial board to remove the materials[61].

December 14, List of activists subjected to political persecution related to the declared Kazakhstan-wide peaceful protest on December 16[62].

14 December, Monitoring of human rights violations for the period from November 22 to December 14, 2021[63] .

On December 14, in Almaty, members of the «NO TO RECYCLING FEE» movement Bokaev Sanzhar, Sadyrbaev Almasbek, Kim Vladimir together with other Kazakhstanis organized a press meeting to announce their intention to oppose the lawless initiatives of the state for the enrichment of some private individuals and to establish a party. They allow the government 1 month to address the problem[64].

December 15, Almaty, Statement of human rights organizations of Kazakhstan on the 10-year anniversary of the tragic events in the city of Zhanaozen and the village of Shetpe. According to official data, 17 people died and more than 86 were wounded as a result of the use of firearms by the police following a month-long strike by oil workers[65].

December 15, Almaty, Kaharman Human Rights Initiative: at least 18 people were persecuted in the run-up to possible protests on the eve of 16 December. As many as 14 people were placed under administrative arrest for periods ranging from 10 to 20 days for allegedly “violating the law on peaceful assemblies”[66].

On December 15, in Almaty, human rights organizations declared their support for the calls by the UN representatives on Kazakhstan for an independent inquiry into the Zhanaozen events of 2011 and demanded to bring to justice those responsible for the use of torture and violence. The statement was signed by the Liberty Foundation, the Kazakhstan Bureau for Human Rights, the International Legal Initiative, and the Ar.Rukh.Hak Public Foundation[67].

On December 15, in Almaty, Zhanbolat Mamay, leader of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (DPK), was summoned for questioning by the police in the case of “spreading deliberately false information about the credit amnesty”. The case was initiated following a statement by the Agency for the Regulation and Development of the Financial Market. This was done, according to Mamai, to intimidate and prevent citizens from participating in the Kazakhstan-wide rally on December 16[68].

On December 15 in Almaty, Almaty maslikhat deputies refuse to comment on changing the route of marches and on the proposal to cut the route for peaceful assemblies, marches and demonstrations. The route under the new project will be cut almost three times — from 4.4 kilometers to 1.5 kilometers[69].

On December 15, in Nur-Sultan, Kenzin Ilshat was detained for holding a picket in front of the building of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan under the slogan “Reform of the judicial system”[70].

On December 15, in Nur-Sultan, Tolegen Muratbek was arrested for 10 days under Article 488, Part 12 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for spreading information on Facebook about the rally on October 23, 2021 near the “Kenesary khan kesenesi”.

On December 16, in Almaty, Huanysh-Doszhan, was arrested for 15 days under Article 488 part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participating in the march on Valikhanov Square in Almaty on November 27, 2021.

On December 16, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin tweeted urging the release of five unlawfully sentenced political prisoners in Kazakhstan: Mendygaziev, Kusmankyzy, Yeskhozhin, Begimbetov, and Klyshev[71].

On December 16, in Ust-Kamenogorsk, more than 100 workers of PSE “Oskemen Vodokanal” held a protest rally with posters “We Demand Higher Wages!” The main demand of the workers was to increase wages by 100% and to improve working conditions[72].

On December 16, in Almaty, about a hundred people attended a rally with the slogan: “Zheltoksan, Zhanaozen! We will not forget, we will not forgive!” in front of the monument to the victims of the December events of 1986 led by Zhanbolat Mamay, the leader of the DPK. Police blocked the approaches to the square, the Internet had been disconnected since 11:00 a.m., and protesters were selectively detained[73].

On December 16, in Almaty, former political prisoner Zhumagulov Almat was detained as he left his house and was forcibly taken to the police. He was held for no reason, and asked questions about his involvement in the DCK movement of Ablyazov. Finally he was released by 8:00 p.m.[74].

On December 16, in Almaty, in the morning the police sealed off all exits from the Independence Square between Zheltoksan Street and Nazarbayev Street[75].

December 16, Zhanaozen, “We died at the hands of butchers”, a publication on human rights violations in 2011, according to witnesses of the Zhanaozen events[76].

On December 16, in Almaty, about ten representatives of the youth movement “Oyan Kazakhstan” made an art performance to commemorate the victims of the December and Zhanaozen events. They dressed in white working clothes, which symbolized the law-abiding peaceful citizens of Kazakhstan. A target symbol was painted on the backs of the clothes[77].

December 16, in Uralsk, Mukambetzhanova Sandugash, Utebayev Bekbolat and Khasanov Vasily have been brought to the police, questioned as witnesses and then released. The police department called the detention of 3 activists by the police without presenting documents and without giving a reason as “bringing to the police”[78].

On December 16, dozens of people in Nur-Sultan and Shymkent paid tribute to the memory of the victims of the December events of 1986 and the Zhanaozen events of 2011. Those gathered in Shymkent said a prayer, while the police watched them from the sidelines. Some activists reported that police officers were on watch outside their houses[79].

On December 16, in Nur-Sultan city, SOS Taldykol activists were refused by the akimat to hold in the territory of the circus a rally in protection of the lake. The grounds for the refusal were that from December 16 to 19 a performance will be held on the area in front of the circus building[80].

On December 16, the list of administrative sanctions in Kazakhstan on the eve of December 16, drafted by human rights activist B. Toregozhina[81].

On December 16, in Nur-Sultan city, Mustafin Sarketpek was fined 145,850 tenge under Article 488 part 11 of the Administrative Offences Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for participating in an unauthorized rally outside the building of the European Union embassy[82].

December 17, Nur-Sultan, the Ministry of Information and Public Development, regarding the ruling of the Military Court of Kazakhstan on 5 October 2021 against the journalist Tatyana Kovaleva, holds the opinion “that the materials posted on the Internet resource sotreport.kz do not constitute grounds for suspension or termination of the Internet resource”[83].

17 December, Semey, monitoring by the human rights group “ELIMAY- defence of human rights in Kazakhstan” of human rights violations on the eve of the rally on December 16, 2021 in Semey[84].

On December 19, in Uralsk, Solodovnikova Nadezhda attempted suicide and drank vinegar in protest against the pressure of the authorities because of her civic activism. Family members report that she is unconscious and in critical condition[85].

On December 19, in Talgar, Almaty Oblast, Klara Khasanova appealed to the President of Kazakhstan and the Akim of Almaty region saying that «her rights to hold a solitary picket were violated”[86].

On December 19, in Almaty, police officers detained on Luganskogo Street the performers of the immersive audio show “Where to next” allegedly following a call from an anonymous “agitated” citizen[87].

December 20, Almaty, SIZ-155/18, political prisoner Rakhimzhanov Noyan, expresses his gratitude for the support, attention and “care-packages” into the pre-trial detention facility. Friends, your support helps Noyan and other political prisoners to stay and fight[88].

On December 20, in Almaty, the Alatau District Court dismissed a request by the probation service to put on the wanted list activist Serikzhan Bilash, a well-known defender of the rights of Xinjiang’s indigenous ethnic groups[89].

On December 20, in Uralsk, the police have initiated a criminal case under Article 105 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “inciting to suicide” after activist Solodovnikova Nadezhda attempted to commit suicide. Also a pre-trial investigation has been initiated[90].

On December 20, in Aktau, Ismakova Aizhan was sentenced under Article 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan to 1 year of restriction of liberty and 2.5 years of prohibition to use social networks and engage in social and political activities[91].

December 21, Nur-Sultan, civil activists demand to cease the persecution of peaceful citizens and release political prisoners, and recall that the appeal court on the politically motivated case against 13 civil activists from Almaty should take place — but the trial was postponed until December 28[92].

On December 21, in Aktau, Kanaliev Abzal was sentenced to 1 year of restriction of liberty and 2.5 years of prohibition to use social networks and engage in socio-political activities under Article 405, Part 2 and Article 293 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan[93].

December 22, Pavlodar, Yerbol Yeshozhin, Article 405, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan; the court upheld a motion to replace the unserved portion of the prison term with a lesser sentence. He will spend the remainder of his sentence, one year and two months, under restriction of liberty, in addition to a five-year ban on participation in public events and the use of social media and 100 hours of forced labor[94].

On December 22, in Nur-Sultan, Blyalova Akmaral picketed in front of the city akimat, demanding that the housing problem be resolved. She held a poster: “We want to live, not to exist. Don’t limit our rights!”. Her daughter was in a wheelchair next to her. By late afternoon, the capital’s authorities handed over 200,000 tenge to Blalova to pay for her rented apartment[95].

On December 22, in Almaty, during a press conference, Kuanyshalin Zhasaral, Mubarakov Aidar, Imangalieva Bibigul said that they had suffered from “unlawful act” of police officers and reported that they had suffered injuries as a result of brutal detentions with the use of force[96].

On December 22, in Almaty, the decision of the Auezov Court No. 2 of Almaty regarding activist Inga Imanbai forbidding the issuance of a new driver’s license to replace the expired one was upheld by the decision of an appellate hearing of the Almaty City Court[97].

December 22, Shymkent, the detention center of the Department of the National Security Committee (DNSC), Amirov Yerulan,who was convicted under Article 174 part 1, Article 256, parts 1 and 2, Article 405 part 2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan, tried to commit suicide! He wanted to hang himself in the cell, they literally took him out of the noose and brought him back life[98].

December 22, Kaharman Human Rights Foundation list of political persecution related to peaceful protests on December 16, 2021[99].

December 23, PF Ar-Bedel politically prosecutes only opponents of the authorities by means of falsified legal lawsuits in which unproven knowingly false reports and accusing citizens of committing felonies and exceptionally aggravated criminal offences are brought forward[100].

On December 23, in Stepnogorsk, Akmola region, environmental activists Nikolai Katchiyev and Alexandra Nazarenko were charged under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan for “inciting social hatred in a group of individuals”, the case materials were sent to the prosecutor’s office[101].

On December 23, in Nur-Sultan, the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved a package of changes to the criminal code regarding the abolition of the death penalty. The draft law entirely excludes the concept of “death penalty” from the legislation[102].

On December 24, in Almaty, activists of the unregistered Democratic Party of Kazakhstan were detained because of their participation in the rally on December 16 near the On December 24, in Almaty, activists of the unregistered Democratic Party of Kazakhstan were detained because of their participation in the rally on December 16 near the Independence Monument. Dostiyarov Abzal was sentenced to 20 days of arrest. Baiterekov Nurbol, Yrysbek Toktasyn were sentenced to 15 days of arrest, Duisebaeva Aruzhan was fined 145850 tenge, Zholayev Meirhan was given a “warning” under Article 488 of the Code of Administrative Offences of the Republic of Kazakhstan[103].

On December 27, in Almaty, a group of participants of the open-ended pickets in front of the Chinese consulate held a protest action in the car. People, who had been repeatedly detained before, would not get out of the car. The police blocked their access to the street adjoining the consulate[104].

December 27, Turkestan region, activists in Shymkent city and Turkestan region appealed to the authorities to release Amirov Yerulan[105].

December 27, social protests in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2021. This year, residents of the country often protested over low wages. Oil workers, doctors and drivers went on strike. Radio Azattyk summarized the main social protests[106].

On December 28, in Nur-Sultan, civil activists Asiya Bakaeva and Askar Sembai picketed the building of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan. They called that the 13 activists from Almaty, whose appeals are currently being considered by the court, be acquitted of all charges[107].

On December 28, in Almaty, more than 50 people gathered outside the city courthouse to support 13 activists. People who gathered outside demanded to be allowed into the building to monitor the process, as the temperature outside had dropped below zero. But no one came to the people, and a police cordon was set up at the entrance to the building. Many people were indignant: “The police don’t protect us, they kill the activists”[108].

On December 28, in Almaty, there was an online meeting of 13 convicted activists. The appellate judicial board of the Almaty city court dismissed the complaints of the convicts under Article 405 part 1/2 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The judicial panel came to the view that on October 11, 2021, the first-instance court had fully proven the guilt of the defendants[109].

On December 28, in Almaty, Zhanbolat Mamay said at a press conference held at the press center of the Kazakhstan Bureau for Human Rights that he was going to ask the UN Human Rights Committee to recognize the court decision to remove the film about Baibek Bauyrzhan , the first deputy chairman of the Nur Otan party, as unlawful. Since by this time he has passed almost all the instances in Kazakhstan[110].

On December 28, in Almaty, Akytkhan Khalida, Kurmanalieva Gaukhar, Kazybek Gulfiya, Kunbolatuly Baybolat were detained by the police near the Chinese consulate in Almaty. When a Radio Azattyk reporter asked about the reasons for their detention, one of the officers involved said, “They got out of the car, then started shouting, and that’s why they were detained”[111].

On December 29, in Nur-Sultan city, journalist Koskina Aynur reported the use of physical force against her by the Member of Parliament Tleukhan Bekbolat during an interview. Police officers arrived at the parliament upon the journalist’s call, and the journalist said that she filed a police report on “obstruction of professional activities of a journalist”[112].

On December 29, in Nur-Sultan, Minister of Justice Beketayev Marat said that the statements of the European Parliament about the presence of political prisoners in Kazakhstan were «provocative”. In the opinion of the minister, these are the people who have committed ordinary criminal offenses[113].

On December 29, in Almaty, the human rights activist Toregozhina Bakhytzhan summarized the results of 2021 on political rights in Kazakhstan: Political prisoners -12 people, released -21 people, prosecution -547 people, including under Art. 405 of the Criminal Code of the RK -136 people. The total number of convictions since 2018 under Art. 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan -88 people. 9 complaints were submitted to the UNHRC in 2021[114].

On December 29, in Shymkent, Yerulan Amirov was transferred from the pre-trial detention facility of the DNSC, to the detention facility ICh-167/11 of the Department of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Yerulan’s case was sent to court, Amirov Yerulan is charged under Art. 174, 256 and 405 of the Criminal Code of the RK[115].

December 29, Nur-Sultan, the capital SOBR (special rapid deployment force) has warned Tokayev, “We’ll have to take drastic measures”. The reason for the statement was three-month arrears in payment of rent compensation. The Ministry of Internal Affairs did not comment on this information[116].

December 29, Kaharman Human Rights Foundation’s monitoring of human rights violations from December 19 to 28, 2021 in Kazakhstan[117].

On December 29, in Nur-Sultan, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed the law on the Commissioner for Human Rights[118].

On December 29, the court upheld the civil suit of Ar-Bedel against Aizhan Akisheva under Article 918 of the Civil Code of the RK “On the prohibition of actions that violate rights and create the danger of causing harm in the future”[119].

December 29, Nur-Sultan, President Tokayev signed amendments to the legislation on the abolition of the death penalty[120].

On December 29, in Nur-Sultan, Minister of Justice Marat Beketayev said at a briefing that the Ministry has returned to the initiative group a package of documents relating to the establishment of the EL Tiregi Party 16 times, for the reason that “it does not meet the requirements”. Specifically, the presence of deceased people and members of other parties on the list. The minister also accuses El Tiregi of attempting to “create an image of a victim”[121].

On December 30, in Nur-Sultan, Altayev Nurzhan replied to the Minister of Justice Beketayev. “There are no deceased people and members of other parties in our lists”. He also said that security service and akimat put pressure on some participants of the “El Tiregi” by threatening to fire them from their jobs[122].

On December 30, in Almaty, Bakytali Nur, who addressed the “Uyghur Tribunal” in London about ethnic and religious persecution of Muslims in China, a former prisoner of the “re-education camp” in Xinjiang, said that pressure was applied, that unknown persons called to give warning and demanded to “walk quietly”[123].

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[1]https://rus.azattyq.org/a/kazakhstan-ar-bedel-gongo—the-honor-and-dignity-of-the-ex-president/31587975.html

[2]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yz64SImZRE

[3]https://www.facebook.com/uralskweek/posts/5095292243832266

[4]https://rus.azattyq.org/a/31588245.html

[5]https://www.facebook.com/groups/808593333258423/posts/1065258070925280/

[6]https://rus.azattyq.org/a/31591000.html

[7]https://orda.kz/nazarbaeva-i-tokaeva-kak-svidetelej-s-pravom-na-zashhitu-almatinec-obratilsja-v-gp/

[8]https://rus.azattyq.org/a/31589991.html

[9]https://www.facebook.com/toregozhina/posts/4903132439699302

[10]https://rus.azattyq.org/a/31590240.html

[11]https://www.facebook.com/toregozhina/posts/4923090844370128