Four political trials were held between 2-4 March 2021:
1) On 2 March 2021, a civil activist Zhazira Kambarova was tried in Taraz in a politically motivated criminal case under Article 405 Part 1 and Part 2 ("organization and participation in the activities of an extremist organisation"). Zhazira Kambarova was illegally sentenced to 2 years of restricted liberty, a 5-year ban on social and political activities (prohibition to participate in peaceful protests, conferences, give interviews to the media, publish on social networks, leave the place of residence without notifying the probation service), forced to pay 132$ as court fees.
2) On 4 March 2021, civil activists Nazira Lepesova and Nazira Lesova were tried in Taraz in a politically motivated criminal case under Article 405 Part 1 and Part 2 ("organization and participation in the activities of an extremist organisation"). They were both illegally sentenced to 2 years of restricted liberty, a 5-year ban on social and political activities (prohibition to participate in peaceful protests, conferences, give interviews to the media, publish on social networks, leave the place of residence without notifying the probation service), forced to pay $178 to «Crime Victims Compensation Fund» and $132 as court fees.
• Judge: Amanbayev G.T. (in the case of Nazira Lesova).
• Judge: Dildabayev A.E. (in the case of Nazira Lepesova).
Zhazira Kambarova, Nazira Lepesova and Nazira Lesova have been politically prosecuted for expressing online their crtitical views about the political, economic and social situation in Kazakhstan.
3) On 4 March 2021, a civil activist Sabit Syzdykbek was tried in Turkestan region in a politically motivated criminal case under Article 405 Part 2 ("participation in the activities of an extremist organisation"). Sabit Syzdykbek was illegally sentenced to 1 and a half years of restriction of liberty and a 3-year ban on social and political activities (prohibition to participate in peaceful protests, conferences, give interviews to the media, publish on social networks, leave the place of residence without notifying the probation service).
• Judge: Amanbayev Gaziz.
Sabit Syzdykbek held peaceful single-man pickets and demanded that the authorities put an end to political persecutions against peaceful demonstrators. The European Parliament has condemned the abuse of anti-extremism legislation by the Kazakhstani authorities to persecute supporters of the peaceful opposition movements “DCK” and “Koshe Partiyasy” and called on the Kazakhstani authorities to lift restrictions of liberty imposed on civil society activists.
Photo: Dilara Isa (RFE/RL)
