Send protests against state repression!
Just as Socialist Resistance (CWI) member, Daniyar Yenikeyev, was released
from ten days in jail in
Later, after the Socialist Resistance members
were released, they went to greet Daniyar on his
release from jail. Understandably, they were cautious and stood on the other
side of the street from a threatening police van. But this did not stop the
police coming over and, once again, taking hold of Ainur,
and three other Socialist Resistance members, Olzhas Abilov, Artur Mangutkin
and Chingiz Yezhebayev. The
group were taken by the police to the regional court. As there was no judge
resident at the court house, the police decided to take matters into their
hands and the Socialist Resistance group were held overnight in a holding cell
(the holding cells are know as “monkey cages”). No formal charges were made
against the detained group.
When challenged by the detainees, the local
Deputy Chief of Police claimed the group were detained because they possessed
placards calling for the “overthrow of the constitutional order” – the Police
official must have thought there was a hidden meaning to the placard reading,
“How are you, Daniyar?”! The Deputy Chief later tried
to distance himself from his ridiculous claim.
The four were taken to court the next morning.
The police refused them access to a solicitor. Two young activists from
Socialist Resistance were told to assist in the defence of the detained group.
The police presented the attempts by Socialist Resistance members to hand over
sausages and cigarettes to Daniyar, while he was
imprisoned, as an “illegal demonstration”.
The hearing began. Defence advocates were presented
to the accused. Olzhas, Artur
and Chingiz were shown “evidence” against them and a
video recording of events outside the police jail. The hearing was then
postponed, as the “defence advocates” were required at another court case. The
hearing against Ainur, however, continued. He was put
under intolerable pressure, when all the officers from the police station,
headed by a Colonel Nenashev, crowded the room. Only
after some minutes of dispute over their presence, were the police were asked
to leave. However, Ainur was not allowed to see the
documents used in ‘evidence’ against him or to see the evidence of a
prosecution ‘witnesses’. The police asked the court to impose a 10 days jail
term against Ainur. The judge sentenced him to five
days.
Later, on the same day, the other three
defendants were released with “warnings” by the court. One of them, Chingiz, was fined “one minimum wage” (1030 tenge or 6 euro). The three left
the court exhausted but in good morale, although obviously concerned about
their comrade, Ainur, who started a five day jail
term.
Only one week before, Ainur
was fined for participating in a “non-sanctioned protest” (According to
It is now clear the state is targeting Socialist
Resistance (CWI). They are attempting to charge Ainur
with offences like “offending the person of the city mayor”. This is a criminal
charge. In the past, worker-activists were jailed for a year, on such charges.
Please send urgent protests at these arrests and
at the ongoing repression against Socialist Resistance members. Send protests
to your nearest
Kazakhstan embassies/consulates (new window).