We condemn Kazakh authorities for the excessive use of force against civilians

we express our condolences to the families and dear ones of the victims



December 16, 2011 in Kazakhstan, the government forces used firearms indiscriminately against people who were in the central square of Zhanaozen. Among the victims were workers of oil and gas enterprises "Ozenmunaygaz", owned by the Kazakh oil company Exploration and Production JSC "KazMunayGas" (50%) and Chinese oil company CNPC (50%)).

According to official information, 14 died in clashes, 86 were wounded. According to witnesses, the number of victims is several times more.

We have a preliminary list of the persons who died as a result of excessive use of force:

               1. Kubaidullaed Baibek, born 21.07.1989;
               2. Ayazov Shadiyar Eljanovich;
               3. Ongarov Serik Alpysbaevich, born12.11.1959;
               4. Yusupov Radik Rasulovich, born 1987;
               5. Turganbaev Amanbek Torekhanovich, born 7.05.1984;
               6. Kusherov Janabergen Jaymukhanovich, born 16.11.1979;
               7. Duysekenov Atabergen Khasanovich, born 27.10.1987;
               8. Abdikarimova Janar, born 11.04.1974;
               9. Kusherov Rakhat, born 11.03.1995;
              10. Munaubaev Nurlan Duysenbaevich, born 8.01.1982;
              11. Kulkhairov Atabay Burebaevich, born 19.07.1967.
The names of other victims have not been established yet.

Parade, announced by the authorities on the Independence Day of Kazakhstan turned into a provocation. And in addition to the participants of civil protest people who came out to the parade also suffered from violent reprisal.

As a result of arson such buildings akimat (administration) of Zhanaozen, hotel "Aruana" , one of the offices of JSC "Ozenmunaygaz" and motor vehicles were damaged and destroyed.

We are deeply concerned that the Kazakh authorities are blocking information about the number and names of the dead, wounded and arrested. According to witnesses, there are mass arrests; Attorney General confirmed the detention of 60 people. Relatives are not informed about the location of the detained. The police do not take statements about finding the missing. In the evening of 16 December people were forcefully put on two “Ikarus” buses and taken in an unknown direction. Their names and whereabouts are unknown.

Relatives of victims, witnesses of the tragic events, the citizens disseminating reliable information, and independent journalists are subjected to unacceptable pressure.

The tragedy occurred at the backdrop of the open-ended act of civil protest of oil and gas industry workers of the Mangistau region (western Kazakhstan) started on 11 May 2011. They defend their right to decent work. Their demands remain the same:

• to allow the activity of the independent trade union “Karakiyak”;
• revise a collective agreement in order to balance  the interests and rights of the workers in accordance with the principle of equality of parties;
• to increase the wages by 100%, as the existing does not provide the real cost of living;
• to establish the wages scheme and review working conditions in accordance with international labour standards.

Over 7 months passed since then, but the Kazakh authorities are unwilling to engage in the dialogue with striking oil workers, terrorizing activists of independent trade unions and critics of the regime. Thus, the Kazakh government violates:People of Kazakhstan were celebrating the 25th anniversary of the events, which took place in Almaty on 16-18 December 1986, and which went down in history as Zheltoksan, (in Kazakh Zheltoqsan is “December”). They were peaceful protests of the citizens brutally suppressed by militia and troops. Authorities did not allow the independent investigation of those events. According to the U.S. Library of Congress, at least 200 people were killed or executed later. Other sources claim that the death toll was even greater - from 1,000 to 2,000. However, it was not possible to confirm these figures. According to independent sources, some 3200 police and military personnel were engaged in the violent suppression of peaceful civilian protests . Thus, historical experience shows that obstacles to investigate massacre lead to their repetition at a later stage. 

The provisions of the ratified International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Art. 19 (right to freedom of expression), Art. 21 (freedom of peaceful assembly), Art. 22 (freedom of association);

19 International Labour Organization conventions, including the fundamental ones:

     – The Convention № 81 (1947) "On Labour Inspection", under which the state represented by the State Labour Inspectorate is obliged to take measures in case of violation of human rights in the work place;

    – The Convention № 87 (1948) "Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize," according to which the state is obliged to allow and recognize the unions of workers, set up by them to protect their legitimate interests;

    – The Convention № 98 (1949) "On the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining", under which employers must negotiate with workers' representatives, and the state should be the guarantor of the consultation process;

     – Convention № 111 (1958), "On discrimination (Employment and Occupation)," which prohibits discrimination based on race, colour, sex, religion, political opinion, national extraction or social origin, which leads to nullifying or impairing equality of opportunity or treatment in employment and occupation.

Association "Human Rights in Central Asia" calls

The Government of Kazakhstan:          

         - to create conditions for an independent inquiry into the tragic events in the city of Zhanaozen the station of Shetpe (Mangystau region);
          - to stop impeding the free flow of information about them;
          - to start a dialogue with the striking employees of the holding "ERSAI Caspian Contractor";
          - to reinstate laid-off workers and activists, who demanded respect for fundamental labour rights;
to release from custody all prisoners and detainees of union leaders, active participants and supporters of the strike;
       - to cancel the convictions against union leaders and activists: a) lawyer of the trade union of JSC "Karazhanbasmunai" Natalia Sokolova, sentenced to six years of imprisonment for "inciting social discord" and b) the trade union leaders and activists - Kuanysh Sisenbaeva, AkzhanatAminov, and Natalia Azhigalieva and others;

        - to conduct investigation into the murder of a young trade union activist, a worker of oil company "MunayFieldService" (Zhanaozen) ZhaksylykTurbaev (before his death he had received threats in connection with his trade union activities);
       - to initiate a permanent tripartite negotiations and consultative process involving the State Labour Inspectorate, employers and independent trade unions representing workers' interests;

International Labour Organization 

          - to establish an independent commission of experts to resolve the industrial dispute and prevent such confrontation in the future;

Governments of democracies:

          - to urge the government of Kazakhstan to allow an independent investigation into the tragic events in the city and the  station Zhanaozen Shetpe in the Mangistau region;

Kazakhstan:workers of the video portal "Stan.Kz" sustained gunshot wounds

Kazakhstan:unprecedented pressure on the participants and supporters of the workers’strikes

Kazakhstan:authorities are up to violent reprisals against oil workers on strike

Kazakhstan:inactivity of the authorities pushes oil industry workers to suicide!

Kyrgyzstan: Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov denied the right to a fair trial

on the criminal case № 41-10-582

Judicial board on criminal cases of the Osh province court is considering an appeal filed by Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov. October 14, 2011 Osh city court sentenced him to 16years in prison. Vakhabdjanov was accused of involvement in the riots in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 and attempted murder. At all stages of this case the principle of fair and thorough investigation has been violated, as well as the right to a fair trial. Vakhabdjanov’s case requires immediate intervention of the international community.

Vakhabdjanov Mirzakhid Bakhodirdjanovich was born in Osh, on August 18, 1976. He is an ethnic Uzbek, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, entrepreneur engaged in the business of car repairs. He is married and has three children. He has no previous convictions. Like many Uzbeks he suffered damage during the pogroms. His house was destroyed; his car and car repair shops were burnt down. Loss of property was documented by the financial police.

• Chronology

     - June 20, 2010 Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov was detained by operational staff of the Office of Internal Affairs in Osh. He was charged under Article 233 of the Criminal Code of the Kyrgyz Republic, Section 2 ("Participation in mass riots") and Article 28-97, Sections 9, 10, 14 ("Attempted murder");     

     - December 6, 2010 Osh city court judge A. Akyev sentenced Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov to 15 years of imprisonment in the colony of tight securety;
     - February 1, 2011 by the decision of the Osh province court of appeal the sentence was upheld;    

    - April 28, 2011 by the decision of the Supreme Court the sentence of the Osh City Court and the decision of the Osh province court have been revoked, the case was sent for a new trial in Osh city court  in the new composition of the court;

     - October 14, 2011 Judge of the Osh City Court T. Aibatiev sentenced Vakhabdjanov to 16 years' imprisonment;
     - The verdict was appealed.

• The circumstances of the case

June 20, 2010 Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov and his brother were detained by police on suspicion of attempted murder of Zholdubay Zulpukarov at 24 hours on June 10, 2010 near the province children's hospital. After a confrontation with the victim a criminal case was initiated against Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov.

From the testimony of Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov it follows that about 10:30 June 10, 2010 his wife woke him up. She said she heard gunshots and that a crowd of armed men was moving down Central Street where they lived. Therefore, all residents of Mahalla, including Vakhabdjanov with his family, began to flee deep into the Mahalla and headed to the Kalinin collective farm, where they stayed until morning. At the same time Vakhabdjanov woke up the neighbour Mavlyuda Mamadalieva, who had small children, and helped her carry the child. He then ran to the house of a helpless neighbour Khidoyat Haydarova who was over 80 years old. On his hands he carried her to the collective farm named after Kalinin. Returning to the mahalla next morning Mirzahid saw that all dwellings in his street were burnt down including his own house. He returned to Kalinin collective farm where neighbours were hiding. Together with them he was there until June 16, 2010.

• The use of torture

Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov

Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov

Trying to get a confession in the assassination attempt of Zulpukarov, operational police officers have used illegal methods of duress on Vakhabdjanov: they beat him (injuries reflected in the photo), threatened to bring charges of murder he did not commit. Defence attorney reported this to the General Prosecutor, who  ordered the Osh city prosecutor's office to check the fact of the use of torture. Prosecutor's Office already knows the name of the investigating officer of the Osh city Office of Internal Affairs, who caused Vakhabdjanov’s injuries. So far, however, he had not been brought to justice.

•  About the trial

Originally the criminal case was considered by the Osh city court judge A. Akyev. The court session was attended by observers from the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a correspondent for the Radio "Azattyk", local human rights organizations “Ray of Solomon”, and “Advocacy” Human Rights Centre.

Among the criminal case materials there was a forensic report No. 1871 on J.Zulpukarov (forensic expert S.T. Toktomametov). The document stated that on June 10, 2010 at 24 hours in the Children's Province Hospital Zulpukarov was beaten by unknown assailants and was injured. He had a closed head injury, bruised wound in the left superciliary area and bruises on his neck as well as a stab wound in the left gluteal.

At the hearing defense presented an excerpt from Zulpukarov’s history of disease issued in September 2010 by the doctor of the neurosurgery department of the city hospital Sh. Zuparov. He did not record that Zulpukarov received stab wounds in the left gluteal area. Defence provided a copy of the medical emergency card filled by doctor Rismatova, which did not contain a record of that stab wound. The court only listened to the testimony of the forensic expert Toktomametov. Defence attorney Tatiana Tomina filed a motion on questioning physician Zuparova, emergency doctor Rismatova, and an independent judicial expert. The court dismissed the petition without grounds.  Defence  verbally challenged the trial judge, but judge dismissed the court challenge. The Court did not consider the discrepancy between the results of forensic examination and discharge from the medical history and sentenced Vakhabdjanov to 15 years in prison.

Osh province court dismissed the appeal against the sentence of the City Court and upheld it.

April 28, 2011 the Supreme Court held a hearing on the oversight complaint against the sentence, which entered into force. The Supreme Court issued a decision to revoke the sentences of the first and second instance courts and remanded the case for a new trial in Osh city court.

October 14, 2011 hearing ended at Osh city court (Judge T. Aibatiev). Doctor Zuparov was summoned to testify in court. He said that when filling up the records of medical history he made a mechanical error and omitted the presence of physical injury - stab wounds on the left buttock. The doctor gave the court a copy of the medical history, which had an added entry about a bruised ragged wound. Defence attorney filed a motion requesting to hear the ambulance staff who hospitalized Zulpukarov and to assign the second forensic examination. In violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure the court dismissed the petition without the possibility of appeal against the decision on rejection of the second forensic examination.

Vakhabdjanov was sentenced to 16 years in prison. The Supreme Court in its decision noted the contradiction between the forensic medical examination and an excerpt from the medical history and ordered this to be rectified. Instead, the city court increased the sentence. After that the defence attorney discovered that the extract from the medical history said "bruised lacerated wound in the gluteal area” while the original medical history records read “bruised wound with occasional bruised lacerated patches”. Defence attorney pointed to these discrepancies but the court did not take it into account and did not conduct an objective and complete investigation.

The victim Zulpukarov constantly changed his testimonies. At the confrontation in the courts of the 1st and 2nd instances, he said that Vakhabdjanov approached him in front, embraced and stabbed in the buttock. After the case was returned from the Supreme Court, Zulpukarov changed his testimonies. He argued that Vakhabdjanov approached him from behind, and he did not see the defendant, but could only hear his name called. There are no witnesses of the beating of Zulpukarov. The court judgement is entirely based on his verbal testimonies and the conclusion of the forensic medical examination. Evidence provided by the defence attorney is not taken into account.

                           Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, notes violations of the principle of a comprehensive and fair trial of the case of Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov:
- The court does not consider the evidence in favour of the innocence of Vakhabdjanov presented by the defence attorney;
- The court systematically dismisses all motions filed by defence;
- The court does not seek to resolve discrepancies between the materials of the case: the forensic judgement of the victim's injuries, record in the medical history issued by the ambulance, an extract from the medical history, issued by the city hospital;
- Court did not carry out in-depth study of the case, does not want to notice fake documents - changes in Zulpukarov’s medical history, made retroactively after the return of a criminal case from the Supreme Court;
- The court does not consider the fact that Vakhabdjanov was subjected to torture
to extract confessions.

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia urges all interested parties, organizations and the media to pay attention to the case of Mirzakhid Vakhabdjanov and to contribute to campaigning for objective and thorough judicial investigation by sending the appropriate application to the leadership of the Kyrgyz Republic at the following addresses:

• President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Atambayev, postal address, Government House: Kyrgyzstan , city of Bishkek, the index is 720 003, Fax: +996 312 638565, E-mail:  ps@mail.gov.kg,  http://www.president.kg /
• Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Kazakbaev Ruslan Aytbaevich, address: 720040, c. Bishkek, boulevard Erkindik, 57, Tel.: +996 312 620545, fax: +996 312 660501; Е-mail: gendep@mfa.gov.kg, pressslujba@gmail.com, http://www.mfa.kg;  
• Acting Chairman of the Supreme Court of Kyrgyzstan Dzhamasheva Feruz Zulumbekovna, mailing address: Kyrgyzstan, 720 046, Bishkek, ul.Orozbekova 37., Telephone: +996 312 663318;
• Chairman of the Osh regional court Tilebaliev Akynbek Kazybekovich, postal address: Osh Mominova Street, 3 Phone: +996 312  66 33 18 (reception);
• Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Salyanova Aida Zhenishbekovna, mailing address: Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek city, postal code 720040, ul. Orozobekova 72, Fax: +996 312 665 411, E-mail:  vsud@elcat.kg

 

Kyrgyzstan: sexual violence amidst ethnic conflict

- such is the title of the new Report of the Association “Human Rights in Central Asia”. Publication of the Report has been timed to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. From 25 November to 10 December 2011 An international campaign “16 days against gender violence” is taking place under the auspices of the UN.

Victim's Breakthrough, 2011

Author: Sergey Ignatyev

Even 1.5 years after the tragic events of June 2010 in the South of Kyrgyzstan it has not been possible to establish the exact number of victims of sexual violence. The experts of the Association managed to interview 12 victims, of whom seven women were aged 40 to 60, three women were aged between 18 and 40 and two were younger than 18. They all refused to disclose their names. Married women were scared that publicity would lead to divorce; unmarried ones were scared of becoming unsuitable for marriage.

In the course of the conflict women from both parties were subject to sexual violence. In some cases torture lead to the death of victims. The most widespread form of revenge was gang rape. Quite often children were subject to sexual violence in the presence of their parents who were not able to protect them due to imminent threat to their own lives.

Courts of Kyrgyzstan so far have not tried a single case on this type of crime. Only once in the course of a trial of the case of murder of a mother and two children it was established that the daughter was subjected to gang rape. Suspects were absent from the trial. Their names have been established and now they are wanted. Those who were established as indirect accomplices in crime have been sentenced to jail.

Authors of the Report urge:

                                               - the Government of Kyrgyzstan;

                                               - non-governmental organizations;

                                               - charities;

                                               - international organizations;

                                               - women’s movement

to ensure access to justice and protection of the victims of sexual violence.

Association strongly recommends:

1. to set up a Public Commission on Trust and Reconciliation on issues of violence against women amidst ethnic conflicts. We call upon representatives of civil society to participate in it with the support of the international community;
2. that the international organizations and donors financing the assistance programmes to victims of violence in the South of Kyrgyzstan elaborate a complex long-term programme of assistance to victims of sexual violence. Such programme should include projects on legal, psychological and medical help to victims;
3. that law enforcement organs train their officers in methods of investigation of sexual violence cases;
4. that the crisis and rehabilitation centres including anonymous and hotline services for sexual violence victims are supported. It is necessary to evaluate the scale of violence in against women in order to provide full-fledged and effective help;
5. that the human rights organizations monitor the  criminal case trials related to violence against women;
6. to ensure access to justice to victims of sexual violence.

You can familiarize yourself with the Report here