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Kazakhstan: Journalists and observers detained in crackdown on presidential election protests
Hundreds of people were detained during Kazakhstan’s most notable election in recent years, including international and local reporters and an election monitor from the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
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Vladimir Kozlov: A profile
Jailed for campaigning for justice, Vladimir Kozlov – journalist, political activist and human rights defender – has long been a thorn in the side of Kazakhstan’s authoritarian president.
![Police officers detain an opposition supporter attempting to stage a protest rally in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 23 June 2018, REUTERS/Mariya Gordeyeva](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan-almaty-arrests-protest-reuters.jpg)
Video: Mass arrests carried out to pre-empt protest in Kazakhstan
On 23 June at least eight journalists were targeted and detained in a round of mass arrests ahead of a planned protest in the city of Almaty. This disturbing video shows people being grabbed off the streets by uniformed, often balaclava-wearing security agents.
![Policemen detain an opposition supporter during a protest rally in Almaty, Kazakhstan May 10, 2018. , REUTERS/Mariya Gordeyeva](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/getty_kazakhstan_protest.jpg)
“False information” laws must not be used to silence the media in Kazakhstan
IFEX members call on officials in Kazakhstan to review the law on ‘dissemination of deliberately false information’ as well as the disproportionate and legally questionable actions recently taken against critical media.
![Twitter / #FreeZhanbolat](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan-zhanbolat-mamay-twitter.jpg)
Kazakh newspaper editor Zhanbolat Mamay freed but banned from journalism
Kazakh opposition journalist Zhanbolat Mamay was finally released but was sentenced to a three-year restriction on his movements and a three-year ban on working as a journalist after being convicted on a trumped-up money-laundering charge.
![Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of Kazakhstan.](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/nursultan.jpg)
Kazakhstan must treat editor Zhanbolat Mamay fairly
Members of IFEX wrote an open letter on behalf of Kazakh Editor Zhanbolat Mamay, calling for a fair and impartial handling of charges against him and full investigation into his mistreatment in prison and threats made to his family.
![The logo of the BTA bank is seen on the top of its office in Almaty, 2 February 2009, REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan_bta_bank_reuters.jpg)
Press freedom groups call for immediate release of Kazakh editor
Zhanbolat Mamay, editor of the Kazakh opposition newspaper Sayasi kalam/Tribuna was handed a two-month detention order on 11 February 2017. If found guilty, he faces up to seven years in jail.
![Riot police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against President Nursultan Nazarbayev's government and the land reform it has proposed, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 21 May 2016, REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan_arrests_29nov16_reuters.jpg)
The Kazakh reality: 5 years in prison over peaceful protest
The government called it “social discord”, “knowingly spreading false information” and “violating the law regulating public assemblies”. To the people who organized it, it was just a peaceful gathering.
![Riot police officers detain demonstrators during a protest against President Nursultan Nazarbayev's government and the land reform it has proposed, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 21 May 2016, REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan_protest_20oct16_reuters.jpg)
Kazakh land rights activists could face 10 years in prison for “inciting national discord”
Hundreds of people in Kazakhstan rallied in April and May against proposed land reforms that would extend from 10 years to 25 years the time for which foreigners could lease land in Kazakhstan. Maks Bokaev and Talgat Aya – the activists on trial – had leading roles in one of the largest protests.
![Link to: Malware linked to government of Kazakhstan targets journalists, political activists, lawyers](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Malware linked to government of Kazakhstan targets journalists, political activists, lawyers
“The use of malware to spy on and intimidate dissidents beyond their borders is an increasingly common tactic employed by oppressive governments,” said Eva Galperin, Global Policy Analyst at EFF and one of the report’s authors.
![Link to: Activists arrested in Kazakhstan after land protests](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Activists arrested in Kazakhstan after land protests
Three activists in western Kazakhstan face prosecution in retaliation for peaceful protests in April and May 2016 against land code changes.
![A man walks past a Kazkommertsbank (KKB) sign at its headquarters in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 5 May 2016, REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan_bank_reuters_26may2016.jpg)
Editor gets 18 months in jail for reporting on Kazakh bank
“Coming days after nationwide protests against the proposed land reform, and the arrest of the protest organizers last week, the verdict against Guzyal Baidalinova on spurious charges of libel is part of the Kazakhstan government’s crackdown on civil society and freedom of expression.”
![A protester argues in front of policemen as they block a street in attempt to prevent an opposition rally in Almaty, Kazakhstan, 7 May 2016. , REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan_protest_18may2016_reuters.jpg)
Kazakh authorities seek to block May 21 protests
Those arrested and charged with “distributing leaflets for an unauthorized rally” or “sowing social discord” include Ermek Narymbai, Asylbek Amantayev, Kuat Kunbolatov, Marat Uatkan, and Suyundyk Aldabergenov.
![Seitkazy Matayev, head of the Kazakh Journalists' Union., REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan_matayev_reuters_24feb16__641.jpg)
Kazakhstan must ensure impartiality of actions towards Mateyev
A joint letter to Kazakhstan’s President Nazarbayev calling for review of recent state actions towards Seytkazy Matayev and the National Press Club.
![The head of the Kazakh Journalists' Union, Seitkazy Matayev, attends a news conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in this undated file photo., REUTERS/Shamil Zhumatov](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/kazakhstan_matayev_reuters_24feb16.jpg)
Head of Kazakh journalists’ union detained ahead of parliamentary elections
In a press conference in Almaty, Tamara Kaleyeva, head of Adil Soz, and local journalist Yermurat Bapi told journalists that charges against Seytkazy Matayev were retaliation for critical reports KazTag and the press club had published ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on 20 March.
![REUTERS/Dado Ruvic](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/international_facebook_1feb2016_reuters.jpg)
Kazakh activists get prison time for Facebook posts
Authorities arrested the men in October 2015 in connection with Facebook posts about a text, attributed to another activist, which describes the Kazakh nation in provocative terms. Authorities claimed that the posts contained signs of ‘inciting national discord.’