Political prosecution of Askar Kaiyrbek

 
On 13 April 2021 at 16:00 the court on politically motivated case under the Article 405 Part 1 and 2 ("organization and participation in the extremist organization") against civil activist and political prisoner Kaiyrbek Askar will be held. On 17 March 2021, an investigator of the Investigative Division of the Astana City Police Department, Kalzhanov K.A., drew up an indictment against Askar Kaiyrbek, who is prosecuted under politically motivated Article 405 Parts 1 and 2 ("organisation and participation in an extremist organisation").
 
The "grounds" under Article 405 Part 1 ("organisation of an extremist organisation") were the activist's actions, such as:
 
- An attempt to register "Koshe Partiyasy" ("Koshe Party" opposition movement): "On 10 May 2020 he replied to a Facebook user with the name "Murat Tanbayev" about plans to register the movement "Koshe Partiyasy"; together with other activists he tried to register the organization "Koshe Partiyasy", which is the new name of the DCK, to legitimize its agitation by distributing agitation materials. Through these actions, he organised the activities of the extremist organisation Koshe Partiyasy;
 
- Appeal to the international community due to the secret ban on Koshe Partiyasy: "Following the recognition of “Koshe Partiyasy” as an extremist organisation, on 12 August 2020 Kaiyrbek A., together with other supporters recorded a video-challenge stating that Askar "believes that the decision of the Yesil District Court violates their constitutional rights, that Kazakhstan violates international obligations, in particular the obligations stated in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights". Called on the representatives of the UN, the European Union, the USA, Canada, Switzerland and the UK "to pay attention to the following facts: on 22 May 2020 at 11:00, 13 active members of the movement "Koshe Partiyasy" gathered near the building of the Yesil District Court of the city of Astana. The activists came to receive an electronic version or a copy of a secret court decision on the recognition of "Koshe Partiyasy" as an extremist organisation and its prohibition. For this appeal they were detained without warning with the use of brute force by dozens of armed officers. Why are the Kazakhstani authorities hiding this decision?";
 
- calling for a PEACEFUL precession: "Called on a Kazakh-speaking audience to participate in a PEACEFUL procession called “Subbotage” through his YouTube channel, organised by M. Ablyazov";
 
This is only a part of the absurd and contradictory accusations described by investigator Kalzhanov. The political case against the human rights activist Kaiyrbek was vivid proof that the investigators of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Security Committee, judges and prosecutors have no understanding at all of what "extremism" is and what a legitimate civil activity is.
 
In its resolution of 11 February 2021, 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 drop politically motivated charges and end all forms of arbitrary detention, reprisals and harassment against human rights activists,  religious organisations, civil society organisations, trade unions, journalists and political  opposition movements". 
 
DCK (Democratic Choice of Kazakhtstan opposition movement)* 
 
Support the project