Kazakhstan: Treatment of ethnic Ukrainian Christians and available state protection
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | KKT31747.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Kazakhstan: Treatment of ethnic Ukrainian Christians and available state protection, 1 April 1999, KKT31747.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac70c.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
No information on the treatment of ethnic Ukrainian Christians and state protection available to them could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
However, a 22 March 1999 International Helsinki Federation of Human Rights (IHFHR) report entitled Religious Discrimination and Related Violations of Helsinki Commitments states that:
Kazakhstan has a history of religious tolerance. In addition to the majority religions - Islam and Orthodox Christianity - members and supporters other Christian religions, Buddhism, the Hare Krishna Movement and others have traditionally been able to carry out their activities relatively freely.
Article 22 of the Kazakh constitution guarantees freedom of conscience provided that the "exercise of such a freedom does not preclude [people] from performing [their] duties and obligations to the state." The law on the freedom of religion was adopted in 1992 and revised in 1997.
Both the constitution and the law on the freedom religion contain restrictions on the practice of religions, which are not "traditional" in Kazakhstan. In recent years, such restrictions have been implemented more strictly, also resorting to violations of the law. Local authorities have often interfered in the activities of religious organizations under various pretexts ....
As of early 1999, the Kazakh government was preparing amendments to the current law to provide for further restrictions on the activities of religious minority groups. The proponents of such amendments have stated that there is need to enforce the role of the state in controlling the activities of non-traditional religions.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHFHR). 22 March 1999. Religious Discrimination and Related Violations of Helsinki Commitments. Report to the OSCE Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Freedom of Religion. Vienna: International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights. [Internet]
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Website.
Electronic Sources: Internet, IRB databases, WNC.
Human rights Watch (HRW) Website.
La Lettre de la FIDH [Paris]. 1998-1999.
REFWORLD. July 1998 version (CD-ROM).
Transitions [Prague]. 1998-1999.
