UN Special Rapporteur and member of our Steering Committee, Maina Kiai, has expressed serious concerns on the state of human rights and civil liberties in Kazakhstan, following a visit to monitor how Astana is upholding its commitments to freedom of assembly and association.

 In a January 27 statement, Kiai said that the government offers “limited space for the expression of dissenting views” and highlighted “a general fear of engaging in oppositional political activity or expression within the population.” Kiai also noted that the right to freedom of association had been curtailed during his visit, with some individuals “held in preventive detention, preventing them from even seeking to exercise their rights.”  The Rapporteur, however, called Kazakhstan’s commitment to revise freedom of assembly legislation “commendable,” and thanked the government for its willingness to engage. Still, he said, it was “time to turn from words to action.” See the full statement here.