Kazakh human rights activist Viktor Ten: “Detained participants in the January protests keep silent about the torture they endured because of fear of disclosure”

Police officers in the city of Taldykorgan (Kazakhstan) torture and rape detained participants in the January protests, filming the process on video. This was reported to the information and analytical portal ORDA by human rights activist Victor Ten, who received this information from the victims themselves.

“It was during the detention, and not in the pre-trial detention center,” says Victor Ten. – When torture, beating, pulling out teeth with pliers were used, then several such facts took place. During the rape with a baton, the police filmed everything on video. They scare people by spreading everything on social networks. Therefore, none of the detainees to date has said this. They talk about it in a confidential conversation. In the meantime, they do not write statements, voice the names, surnames of police officers, the district, according to ethical standards, I do not have the right.”

January mass protests in Kazakhstan erupted shortly after the New Year, with one of the reasons for the massive unrest was a sharp increase in the price of liquefied gas used as fuel for cars. On January 6, an anti-terrorist operation regime was announced in the republic, and the next day, the Kazakh authorities announced the restoration of order in the country. Citizens of the republic, including human rights activists in Kazakhstan, report torture and beatings suffered by police detained participants in the January unrest, including peaceful protests.

In this regard, Kazakhstan is not alone – torture and beatings are used as measures of influence on arrested and imprisoned people in Russian colonies and pre-trial detention centers, which is also recognized by officials.