HRW urges Kazakhstan to suspend Zhanaozen trial
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 23 April 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, HRW urges Kazakhstan to suspend Zhanaozen trial, 23 April 2012, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f9e7c782.html [accessed 19 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. |
April 23, 2012
Human Rights Watch (HRW) is calling for the suspension of the trial in Kazakhstan of 37 people accused of involvement in the deadly disturbances in a western Kazakh oil town last year.
In a statement, the New York-based watchdog said that many defendants claim they were subjected to physical abuse while in detention.
The unrest in Zhanaozen in mid-December came after a seven-month occupation of the main square by oil workers demanding increased salaries.
A confrontation between the demonstrators and police ended with violence in which at least 16 civilians were killed.
Authorities say the disturbances were organized by people seeking to sow instability in the authoritarian-ruled Central Asian country.
HRW says it has evidence that defendants were beaten and pressured into giving statements incriminating themselves and others.
With reporting by AP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
