PRESS RELEASE EXPANSION OF THE LIST OF POLITICAL PRISONERS IN KAZAKHSTAN

August 9, 2022 Almaty

By the decision of the Expert Council of August 3, 2022, the following persons were recognized as political prisoners:

Sadibekov Moldabay, a civic activist from the city of Shymkent, has repeatedly been held administratively liable for his active citizenship. By the verdict of the Al-Farabi District Court of Shymkent of June 6, 2022. M. Sadibekov was found guilty of “organizing mass riots” under Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the RK and sentenced to 3 years’ imprisonment with serving his sentence in a medium security institution

Baisagatov Aidar, a civic activist from Ust-Kamenogorsk. On June 24, 2022, he was convicted under Article 380 of the Criminal Code of the RK to 1 year and 4 months’ imprisonment, to be served in a minimum security institution for his presence at the place where the January rally was held. On the day of the rally on the square, he was broadcasting online for the Facebook social network and was expressing his opinion on what was going on in the country. During the live broadcast on January 5, A. Baisagatov was all of a sudden grabbed by unknown persons wearing black clothes and masks and was taken to the city Department of Internal Affairs.

3. Bekeyev Ablaykhan, a 27-year-old civic activist from the city of Aktobe. On January 12, 2022 A. Bekeyev was detained and his actions were qualified under Article 272 of the Criminal Code of the RK “Mass Riots”. On January 5, 2022 A.Bekeyev, exercising his constitutional right to peaceful assembly, took part in a rally to support the Zhanaozen protesters in their demands.

4. Zholatov Aziz, a student, son of civic activist from the city of Semey, Anar Kaliyeva. He received numerous threats because of his mother and sister’s active citizenship. On January 6, 2022, during a peaceful rally, A. Zholatov was detained together with his mother and taken to the TDF of the city of Semey. On January 8, 2022 the actions of A. Zholatov were qualified under Article 272, Article 269 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the detention Aziz was badly beaten, he was taken to the police in a state of unconsciousness. A criminal case under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan «Torture» was opened.

Expert Council:

Galym Ageleuov

Lukpan Akhmedyarov

Zauresh Battalova

Gulmira Birzhanova

Anara Ibraeva

Yevgeniy Zhovtis

Yerlan Kaliev

BakhytzhanToregozhina

Amangeldy Shormanbaev