On Tuesday, police fined Serik Ydyryshev, a 56-year-old resident of East Kazakhstan Oblast, 50 MCI (380$) for posting a video on social media in support of Marat Zhylanbayev, leader of the unregistered party “Alga, Kazakhstan!”. Ydyryshev disagrees with the accusations and wants to appeal the decision, Radio Azattyk reported.
“In accordance with the Constitution, I will openly express my opinion. I have not done anything illegal. I believe that by being imposed a fine, I am being pressured”, Ydyryshev said.
The activist does not agree with the charges and did not sign the protocol. He intends to appeal against it.
In November, the activist expressed dissatisfaction with Zhylanbayev’s trial being held behind closed doors on his social media page. He also disagreed with the verdict and criticised the President’s order to “shoot to kill” during the January events.
On December 7, a court in Astana arrested activist of the opposition party “Alga, Kazakhstan!” Aset Abishev and human rights activist Aidar Syzdykov for 15 days. They were charged with committing an offence under Article 434 Part 1 of the Administrative Code (disorderly behaviour). They were detained by police on December 6 at the special reception centre where they had come to meet another activist, Kanat Amrenov, who was arrested for 15 days last month. Activists link this to the upcoming regular submission of registration documents for the opposition party “Alga, Kazakhstan!”, which the group has scheduled for December 15.
Marat Zhylanbaev, 60, has criticised the authorities and participated in protests over the past few years. His last uncoordinated action took place on March 17 in front of the EU embassy in Astana, where he demanded the registration of political parties and the release of political prisoners. For this, on May 3, he was brought to administrative responsibility and arrested for 20 days. But on May 23, after serving his administrative arrest, he never came out. It later became known that the police took him to the Counter-Extremism Department, and Zhylanbaev’s house was searched. He was then arrested for two months on suspicion of “involvement in a banned organisation” (Article 405 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and “financing the activities of an extremist organisation” (Article 258 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan). On October 30, the trial began behind closed doors. On November 29, Zhylanbaev was sentenced to seven years in prison.
Source:
Vlast
