HRW proposed to conduct an independent investigation into the events in Kazakhstan

The international human rights organization Human Rights Watch called on the UN, the OSCE and the European Union to demand that the authorities of Kazakhstan conduct an effective, independent and impartial investigation into the actions of the security forces during the January events.

According to the statement, HRW experts conducted a detailed analysis of over 80 verified videos filmed in Almaty during the January riots.

According to Human Rights Watch Crisis and Conflict Researcher Jonathan Pedneault, the analysis found ample evidence that security forces fired without apparent reason, killing at least 10 people.

“Probably, there were much more victims of forceful response in reality, and this requires a prompt and effective investigation,” Mr. Pedneault believes.

As ACCA has already reported, on January 3, rallies began in almost all regional centers and large cities of Kazakhstan. The protesters first demanded a reduction in the price of liquefied natural gas. Then political demands began to be heard: to dismiss the government, and for the first president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, to finally step down from power. In response, the authorities began to block communications and disperse rallies by force, which led to even greater confrontation. On the evening of January 4, Almaty was actually captured. According to the authorities, the seizure was no longer carried out by protesters, but by specially trained militants – about 20,000 terrorists and extremists. They looted and burned down the buildings of the city mayor’s office, the prosecutor’s office and the television and radio complex, which housed the offices of republican TV channels, radio stations, newspapers and magazines. In addition, shopping and entertainment centers, hardware stores, jewelry stores and other small and medium-sized businesses were looted.

“Human Rights Watch has verified and analyzed over 80 videos. There are 17 videos for the first episode, filmed on the night of January 4-5. In the video, peaceful protesters are heading towards Republic Square and concentrating there near the city hall and the presidential residence. Small groups from the crowd, as it seems, loot shops on the way to the square. At about 00:15, shortly after the demonstrators entered the square, the security forces fired tear gas, used stun grenades and rubber bullets against them. After that, the crowd began to attack the security forces and set fire to police cars. There are 23 videos for the second episode, taken between 15:00 and 17:30 on January 5. In the video, security forces at the presidential residence repeatedly open fire with submachine guns at several hundred people gathered at the complex, including both demonstrators and others with sticks, shields and shovels. There is no evidence that these men posed an immediate threat to the security forces, although one individual may have been carrying a gun. Based on these videos, Human Rights Watch counted at least 10 people allegedly killed and 19 injured, most with gunshot wounds. The third episode is dated at approximately 10:00 am on January 6. There is video of soldiers firing live ammunition in Republic Square. According to a protester who was on the square at the time, there were about 150 demonstrators, they behaved peacefully and shouted, “Don’t shoot!” The security forces then fired into the air. “One man was wounded,” she said. The fourth episode was between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm on January 6, when protesters again gathered in the Republic Square. They had a big white banner in Kazakh that said, “We are common people, we are not terrorists!” A demonstrator, who was at the square at the time, told Human Rights Watch that security forces fired live ammunition at the protesters after warning shots, and he had to flee. According to eyewitnesses, one demonstrator was wounded in the head, one in the body,” HRW researchers list the facts of the use of force against the demonstrators.

The organization reminds that Kazakhstan, in addition to obligations under international human rights law in the field of protecting the right to life and personal integrity, is also obliged to respect freedom of peaceful expression and freedom of peaceful assembly, including by ensuring that security forces are adequately trained and equipped to enable them to maintain law and order during demonstrations in a manner that doesn’t violate human rights.

“Given the seriousness of the alleged violations, Kazakhstan’s international partners, including the UN, OSCE and EU, should demand that the government conduct an effective, independent and impartial investigation into the actions of the security forces during the January events. The government should seek technical assistance from international experts and refrain from obstructing fact-finding and monitoring activities by national and international non-governmental groups, regional and international organizations and the media. In the event that the government of Kazakhstan fails to conduct an effective investigation in accordance with international standards, the OSCE member states should use the “Moscow mechanism”, which allows the OSCE to initiate its own investigation, and the member states of the UN Human Rights Council should consider these issues at the next session,” HRW experts said.

It’s worth noting that the “Moscow mechanism” was adopted in 1991 as an addition to the “Vienna mechanism”. It provides for the possibility of sending missions of experts to assist participating states in resolving a particular issue or problem related to the human dimension.