Photo: Petr Trotsenko (RFE/RL)

Together with our partners we publish the following information:
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Preventive political persecution in the period from 22 February to 28 February 2021:
61 cases in 15 cities and towns. Of these:
- 2 political criminal cases: Aibek Sabitov (Astana), Berik Nogayev (Aktobe) - 2 months of house arrest for the duration of investigation.
- 20 administrative arrests (2 for "defamation", 18 for "violation of law on peaceful assembly").
- 1 administrative warning (for "violation of the law on peaceful assembly").
- 37 cases of other forms of persecution.
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Political persecution on 28 February 2021:
- 210 cases of political persecution in 23 cities and towns. Of these:
- 2 political criminal cases against civil activists: Zhunusov Zhanibek (Astana), Aidar Syzdykov(2 months in pre-trial detention facility for the duration of investigation).
- 156 arbitrary detentions in 17 cities and towns.
- 4 administrative arrests (5-15 days).
- 3 administrative fines (up to 486$).

List of political persecution in connection with peaceful protests on 28 February 2021 in Kazakhstan can be found here. 

These facts refute:
- Tokayev's claims about the "notification character" of peaceful assemblies and claims about a "listening state". In the period from 18 to 26 February 2021, authorities denied at least 16 requests for peaceful protests and solitary pickets in 11 cities.
- The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RK that the European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation in Kazakhstan of 11 February 2021 allegedly "distorts the real situation".
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The authorities violate their international human rights obligations.
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We welcome the imposition of personal sanctions by the US and the EU against top Russian officials for human rights violations.
We call on the US, the EU, the UK and Canada to impose personal sanctions against those involved in human rights abuses in Kazakhstan - those who order and execute them.