Executive Overview

Kazakhstan’s human rights situation showed no significant improvements during the reporting year. The government continued systematic violations including torture, arbitrary detention, restrictions on media freedom, limited political participation, and widespread corruption. While some officials were prosecuted for abuses, impunity remained prevalent, particularly for serious violations.

Respect for the Integrity of the Person

Torture and Cruel Treatment

The law prohibited torture, but credible reports indicated government officials regularly employed such practices. Torture was particularly prominent in pretrial facilities and interrogation rooms, where security personnel beat detainees to extract confessions. The Coalition Against Torture received 188 complaints related to January 2022 unrest, though human rights defenders estimated the true number was much higher due to underreporting.

Following January 2022 events that resulted in over 200 deaths, the government opened 329 criminal cases related to torture, closing 236. Several security officers received prison sentences, including seven officers in Almaty convicted for the torture death of Zhasulan Anafiyaev, and officers in Taldykorgan and Semey for similar cases. However, human rights defenders noted that sentences for security officials were disproportionately light compared to civilians convicted of riot-related crimes.

Prison Conditions

Prison conditions remained harsh and failed to meet international standards. The National Preventive Mechanism against Torture reported overcrowding, outdated facilities, inadequate heating and cooling, poor nutrition, unsatisfactory health and sanitary conditions, and discrimination against vulnerable groups including prisoners with disabilities and HIV/AIDS. Video footage of prison guards beating activist Timur Danebayev in September led to the firing of 11 staff members.

Independent monitoring was limited by mandatory prenotification of visits, low staffing, inadequate training, and new confidentiality requirements that reduced the utility of monitoring bodies in highlighting abuses.

Arbitrary Detention

Despite legal prohibitions, arbitrary arrests of political opponents and activists continued throughout the year. The government frequently detained individuals for minor infractions such as unsanctioned assembly, leading to fines or up to 15 days’ administrative arrest. Authorities detained many participants in unsanctioned protests and even pedestrians near protest sites.

Judicial procedures were frequently ignored, with judges authorizing most arrest warrant requests. Prolonged pretrial detention remained commonplace, and defendants faced constraints in communicating with attorneys, with staff sometimes secretly recording conversations.

Civil Liberties

Freedom of Expression and Media

While the constitution provided for freedom of speech, the government severely limited expression through detention, imprisonment, restrictive laws, harassment, and internet restrictions. Independent media faced significant constraints, with most nationwide broadcasters wholly or partly government-owned.

Several harassment cases targeted independent journalists by unknown perpetrators in January, including vandalism of Elmedia.kz offices, arson of journalist Dina Yegeubaeva’s car, and hacking of UlysMedia website. The government prosecuted businessman Arkady Manevich-Klebanov for organizing these incidents, though media figures questioned whether the convicted individuals were actually responsible.

Anti-corruption journalist Mikhail Kazachkov received a suspended 3.5-year sentence for allegedly releasing state secrets. Journalist Duman Mukhametkarim was arrested on extremism charges that human rights defenders considered politically motivated.

Internet Freedom

The government exercised comprehensive control over online content, blocking opposition websites and throttling internet access during protests. New legislation on online platforms required companies with over 100,000 daily users to counter illegal content and suspend accounts distributing prohibited material. Websites had to register all commenters and provide information to law enforcement on request.

Assembly and Association

The government restricted peaceful assembly through bureaucratic technicalities to deny applications on political or controversial topics. Gatherings could only occur in designated areas, spontaneous assemblies were banned, and foreigners were denied assembly rights.

NGOs faced significant registration difficulties, particularly those working on sensitive topics like LGBTQI+ rights. Organizations receiving foreign funding were required to label all publications and faced extensive reporting requirements. In September, the government published a discriminatory registry of 240 entities receiving foreign funding, increasing scrutiny of critical organizations.

Political Participation

The constitution concentrated power in the presidency, with the president appointing most high-level officials. National elections were widely reported as neither fair nor free, with restrictions on candidates, unequal media access, and procedural irregularities during counting.

The government denied registration to several political parties, including Alga, Kazakhstan and El Tiregi. At least three leaders of unregistered parties remained on the political prisoners list, including Nurzhan Altayev (sentenced to 10 years) and Marat Zhylanbayev (sentenced to seven years).

Political Prisoners

Civil society alliance Tirek maintained a list of over 20 political prisoners throughout the year, including peaceful activists, journalists, protesters, and political figures. The government denied the existence of political prisoners despite credible evidence of politically motivated prosecutions.

Discrimination and Societal Abuses

Women’s Rights

Domestic violence remained a serious problem, with President Tokayev stating that over 300 murders occurred in 2.5 years due to domestic violence. Government sources indicated 70-90% of domestic violence cases went unreported. While the government maintained 49 crisis centers and implemented legal reforms, activists reported insufficient laws and support structures.

Sexual harassment continued without specific legal protections, and significant wage gaps persisted between men and women (22% in 2022). Women in rural areas faced greater discrimination and limited opportunities for education and employment.

LGBTQI+ Rights

While same-sex activity was not criminalized, LGBTQI+ individuals faced extensive discrimination, harassment, and violence. Human rights defenders reported cases of extortion and blackmail by law enforcement officials, discriminatory treatment in medical facilities, and verbal abuse. Transgender individuals faced particular challenges due to identification document requirements and restrictive legal gender recognition procedures.

NGOs engaged in LGBTQI+ activism could not register as such and faced difficulties obtaining permits for public assemblies outside of Almaty.

Persons with Disabilities

Despite legal protections, persons with disabilities faced widespread discrimination in employment, education, and access to services. Public buildings frequently lacked accessibility features, and detention facilities were not appropriately equipped. Mental health patients experienced poor conditions and complete lack of privacy, with involuntary commitment possible without judicial review.

Worker Rights

The government exercised considerable influence over organized labor, favoring state-affiliated unions. Geographical representation requirements prevented registration of independent sectoral unions. While new amendments eased some strike limitations, representatives of independent trade unions called these changes “cosmetic” because arbitration procedures remained difficult.

Labor strikes expanded beyond the usual oil-services sector to coal, metal, and utility facilities throughout the country. Most strikes ended with courts ruling them illegal, though employers often agreed to partial wage and benefit increases.

The October 28 explosion at Kostenko mine resulted in 46 deaths, the largest industrial accident in the country’s independent history. Observers attributed this to negligence and lack of appropriate safety investments.

Government Corruption

Corruption remained widespread across the executive branch, law enforcement, local government, education, and judiciary. While some mid-level officials were prosecuted, impunity existed, especially where personal relationships with government officials were involved. Investigative journalists reported that political persecution and legal provisions related to “false information” impeded their ability to conduct corruption reporting.

International Monitoring

Several domestic and international human rights groups operated with limited freedom, though the government monitored NGO activities on sensitive topics and practiced harassment. The Presidential Commission on Human Rights and the Ombudsperson’s Office had limited authority to remedy abuses or implement recommendations.

Civil society representatives reported reduced cooperation from the Ombudsperson’s Office compared to previous years, with the office’s actions heavily influenced by the government and falling short of holding authorities accountable for serious human rights abuses.

Transnational Repression

The government engaged in transnational repression, including the selective prosecution of family members of opposition activists living abroad. The case of Bekizhan Mendygaziyev, who received a five-year sentence allegedly to pressure his brother Barlyk Mendygaziyev in the United States to cease political activities, exemplified this practice.

Conclusion

Kazakhstan’s human rights landscape remained characterized by systematic violations across multiple areas. While the government took some steps to prosecute officials for abuses, fundamental problems persisted including lack of judicial independence, restrictions on political participation, limited media freedom, and inadequate protection for vulnerable groups. The concentration of power in the presidency, combined with widespread corruption and impunity, continued to undermine respect for human rights and democratic governance.

The government’s publication of discriminatory registries targeting organizations receiving foreign funding, continued prosecution of political opposition figures, and restrictions on civil society demonstrated a concerning trend toward further limiting civic space. International pressure and monitoring remained crucial for advocating improvements in Kazakhstan’s human rights situation.

Source: This summary is based on the comprehensive 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Kazakhstan published by the U.S. Department of State. The complete report, containing detailed documentation of human rights violations, government responses, and extensive supporting evidence, is available at: 2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Kazakhstan. The full report provides in-depth analysis across all human rights categories and serves as an authoritative reference for researchers, policymakers, and advocates working on Kazakhstan-related human rights issues.