Kazakhstan

An archivist and reporter for several opposition newspapers, Ularbek Baitailak was left for dead at the edge of the road by his attackers.

Bolat Atabayev says he was severely beaten on the day of his arrest by an officer of the National Security Committee (KNB); on 4 July the bruises on his face were still visible as he gave a press conference in Almaty.

The courts convicted three dozen workers of organizing mass unrest for participating in a seven-month strike for better labour conditions in the town of Zhanaozen.

Twenty-seven IFEX members appeal for end to impunity in recent brutal attacks on journalists in Kazakhstan, including near-fatal attack on Luqpan Akhmedyarov in April.

Lukpan Akhmedyarov is known for his criticism of the authorities and prior to the attack had received several warnings from the public prosecutor’s office and reported being followed.

Civil society activists have planned a series of rallies to mark 100 days after police opened fire on unarmed protesters in the city of Zhanaozen, andauthorities have already started to arrest and fine participants.

The editor of the independent weekly newspaper “Vzglyad” was granted a pardon and released after nearly two months in a pre-trial detention centre in Almaty.

Human Rights Watch says the authorities violated Sokolova’s right to freedom of expression because she was prosecuted for speaking out on issues such as wage disparity and oil workers’ rights.

Twenty-nine IFEX members have signed a letter to the Prosecutor General about the detention of editor Igor Vinyavsky, whose detention is believed to be politically motivated, calling for him to be released and for the evidence leading to his arrest to be made public.

The rights organisation is concerned about the violent crackdown on protesters and online censorship that occurred following a strike in the oil-rich town of Zhanaozen.

For two consecutive days, KNB agents interrogated Oksana Makushina in connection with a press conference held on 30 January at which she spoke in defense of Igor Vinyavsky, imprisoned editor of the independent weekly “Vzglyad.”

Igor Vinyavsky has been indicted on criminal charges of “making public calls to violently overthrow Kazakhstan’s constitutional regime”.

Igor Vinyavsky was detained in an ongoing crackdown by the security service on critical media and opposition activists, which also involved a raid on an independent broadcaster.

The absence of information following several the incidents exemplifies Kazakhstan’s lack of progress in protecting and promoting the right to freedom of expression, says ARTICLE 19.

Valery Surganov was convicted on a defamation charge, and was given a curfew and banned from leaving Almaty without police consent, among other restrictions.

The assailants seized a notebook computer, extensive video footage and a backpack with reporting equipment during the attack on Orken Bisen and Asan Amilov.