During the period from 30 July 2020 to 19 March 2021, local executive bodies (akimats), supervised by the National Security Committee, denied the requests for permits to hold peaceful protests, marches and solitary pickets in 19 cities and towns 58 times in a politically motivated manner.

Of these, 27 politically motivated refusals were issued in 2021. Since the adoption of the European Parliament resolution on the human rights situation in Kazakhstan on 11 February 2021, akimats have issued 26 refusals to hold peaceful protests and solitary pickets. Frequent reasons for refusals are: "quarantine measures", the chosen location is not on the list of "specialised" locations. Akimats continue to misuse quarantine measures to restrict human rights.

These actions directly indicate that the Kazakhstani authorities violate their international human rights obligations, including the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Kazakhstan, as well as the country's Constitution.

These actions refute:

1) Tokayev's statements about the alleged "reforms", the "notification" nature of peaceful assemblies, and that it is a constitutional right of citizens.

2) A statement by Deputy Prosecutor General Bulat Dembayev that the authorities had allegedly "democratised and simplified the organisation and conduct of peaceful assemblies in the country".

3) The statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan that the European Parliament Resolution on the human rights situation of 11 February 2021 "misrepresents the real situation".

We call on the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Canada to impose personal sanctions against: Karim Massimov, head of the National Security Committee; Gizat Nurdauletov, General Prosecutor; and Yerlan Turgumbayev, Minister of Internal Affairs.