Penal Reform International report on Kazakhstan
Kazakh publications on Penal Reform International visits to the prisons of Aktau and Zhanaozen.
KazTag 31.12.2011. The committee visited pre-trial prisons in Zhanaozen. During their visit to the pre-trial prisons of Zhanaozen and Aktauhe, representatives of PRI (Penal Reform International) in Central Asia and of the public observation commissions found no evidence of torture or ill treatment of detainees arrested during the riots in Mangistau region, the press service of PRI says.
"During the two-day visit to the Zhanaozen and Aktau prisons by the representatives of PRI and the public observation commissions from four regions, no instances of torture or ill-treatment were found," the press release of PRI says.
As the press service says, of those who were arrested according to article 241 of the Criminal Code (riots), twelve are in detention in Zhanaozen and fourteen in the jails of Aktau.
On 29 December 2011 the representatives of PRI visited two places: the pre-trial prisons of the police department and the detention center in Zhanaozen.
"The pre-trial prison has 13 cells with a total capacity of 38 people. At the time of the visit the limit was not exceeded. Accused persons are kept in five cells. All 12 of them were interviewed and some parts of their bodies were selectively examined," the report reads.
"The second place visited was the detention center. The institution has seven cells with a limit of 22 people. At the time of the examination the limit was not exceeded. An empty cell was also examined. There were no complaints about torture or ill-treatment in the institutions, " the PRI added.
On the second day the representatives of the non-governmental organizations visited the jails in Aktau where 14 people are kept, 10 of those for the riot in Zhanaozen and another four for the riot in Shetpe, the press service of the PRI says.
"The examination was carried out in the cells with those detained on clear charges. With the consent of the detained, certain parts of their bodies (arms, shoulders, skin) were examined, but none of those examined had abrasions, bruises or other injuries. The conversations also revealed no evidence of the violation of the rights to freedom from torture and showed that nutrition and access to lawyers has been received," the statement reads.
Media earlier spread information about the torture and ill-treatment of those arrested during the riots in Mangistau region. Riots broke out in Zhanaozen on 16 December. On 17 December riots were recorded in Shetpe.
According to recent data, 17 people were killed during the riots in Zhanaozen and Shetpe.
The Interior Ministry established the identities of 40 active participants and organizers of the riots in Zhanaozen, of whom 18 were arrested. In addition, 10 people were arrested after the events in Shetpe. On 16-18 December, 35 police officers applied for medical help with various injuries.
A presidential decree introduced a state of emergency in Zhanaozen.
Interfax-Kazakhstan, 30.12.2011. Reports of torture in detention centers of Zhanaozen and Aktau not confirmed - Penal Reform International.
The representatives of the international association Penal Reform International (PRI) and public observing commissions from several regions of Kazakhstan did not reveal any cases of torture in the detention centers of Zhanaozen or Aktau in the Mangistau region of Kazakhstan.
"During the two-day visit to the Zhanaozen and Aktau prisons by representatives of PRI and the public observation commissions from four regions no facts of torture or ill-treatment were found," the press release distributed by PRI says. The information also states that "in general, according to the observations of national experts in the field of human rights, the situation is calm."
"The information contained in various sources about ongoing riots and new victims was not confirmed," the press release states. During the visit the experts focused on the conditions of detention, PRI said.
"Namely, the number of detained persons, the allowed limit, the general state of health, sanitation, the right to medical care, access to lawyers and others", PRI explains.
The organization says that out of all the people arrested according to article 241 (participation in mass disorders) of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, at the moment 12 accused are being held in Zhanaozen and 14 in Aktau.
During the interviews of the specialists from PRI and observation commissions with the detainees, no complaints of ill-treatment were received, the report says.
Mass riots took place on 16-17 December in Zhanaozen and Shetpe in the Mangistau region. In total, 16 people died and over 100 were injured.
Dozens of people were arrested for organizing the riots.
Kazakhstan Today, 30.12.2011. Representatives of international organizations deny the facts of torture in Zhanaozen and Aktau The two-day visit to the detention center and jails in Zhanaozen and Aktau of the representatives of Penal Reform International (PRI) and public observation commissions found no instances of torture or ill-treatment, Kazakhstan Today reports.
"In connection with media reports about the torture and ill-treatment against the detainees in Mangistau region, public observation commissions from several regions addressed Penal Reform International in Central Asia with a proposal to initiate a visit to Zhanaozen and Aktau, particularly to monitor the prisons to identify cases of torture," Penal Reform International reported.
"It should be noted that the public observation commissions are legitimate bodies to conduct this monitoring, their authority is enshrined in the existing legislation, they have the necessary expertise
and are independent non-governmental organizations, without any political commitments, and specialize in monitoring the right to freedom from torture."
"The General Prosecutor of Kazakhstan reacted very quickly to this request, permission was granted and access provided, including the permission to use video both to the members of the expert groups and to the journalists.”
Of those who were arrested according to article 241 of the Criminal Code (riots), twelve are in detention in Zhanaozen and fourteen in the jails of Aktau.
On 29 December 2011 the representatives of PRI visited two places: pre-trial prisons of the police department and the detention center in Zhanaozen. During the visit the experts focused on the conditions of detention, namely, the number of detained persons, the allowed limit,
the general state of health, sanitation, the right to medical care, access to lawyers and others.
"The pre-trial prison has 13 cells with a total limit of 38 people. At the time of the visit the limit was not exceeded. Accused persons are kept in five cells. All 12 of them were interviewed and some parts of their bodies were selectively examined. One of them, Bakhytzhan Munalbayev, born 1989, from cell number 6, had a fracture in his left hand. According to him, the injury was received on 16 December 2011. Medical assistance was rendered and the hand put in plaster. The trauma was registered in the medical journal when the detained man arrived. Munalbayev says that he receives regular injections of painkillers. Another detained, Baurzhan Kuanov, born 1991, from cell number 9, had a hematoma on the left shin. In his words, the injury was received before his arrest. However, the injury is not recorded in the medical journal, which keeps all the available data on injuries found during inspection of the detainee on admission to the institution.
"The second place of a visit was the detention center. The institution has seven cells with a limit of 22 people. At the time of examination the limit was not exceeded. An empty cell was also examined. There were no complaints about torture or ill-treatment in the institutions, "In general, according to the observations of national experts in the field of human rights, the situation is calm. The information contained in various sources about the ongoing riots and new victims was not confirmed."
The two-day visit to the prisons in Zhanaozen and Aktau revealed no instances of torture or ill-treatment, the representatives of international organizations concluded.
Novosti-Kazakhstan, 30.12.2011. Human rights activists did not reveal any cases of torture against detained rioters in Zhanaozen Representatives of human rights organizations did not find evidence of torture against detained participants of riots that occurred in Zhanaozen on 16 Decembe, the press release said.
"In connection with media reports about the torture and ill-treatment against the detainees in Mangistau region, public observation commissions from several regions addressed Penal Reform International in Central Asia with a proposal to initiate a visit to Zhanaozen and Aktau, particularly to monitor the prisons to identify cases of torture," Penal Reform International reported.
"It should be noted that the public observation commissions are a legitimate body to conduct this monitoring, their authority is enshrined in the existing legislation, they have the necessary expertise and are the independent non-governmental organizations, without any political commitments, and specialize in monitoring the right to freedom from torture."
The Prosecutor General's Office has authorized and provided access to the groups of the chairmen of the regional observation commissions and the
representative of the PRI and allowed the use of video and photographic equipment to the group members and to the journalists." In general,
according to the observations of national experts in the field of human rights, the situation is calm. The information contained in various sources about the ongoing riots and new victims, has not been confirmed," the report says.
During the visit the experts focused on the conditions of detention, namely, the number of detained persons, the allowed limit, the general state of health, sanitation, the right to medical care, access to lawyers and others.
"During the two-day visit to the Zhanaozen and Aktau prisons of the representatives of PRI and the public observation commissions from four regions, no instances of torture or ill-treatment were found," the press release of PRI says.
TengriNews, 30.12.2011. Torture and mistreatment of detainees in Zhanaozen not recorded
Representatives of the international public association Penal Reform International in Central Asia (PRI), found no evidence of torture or ill treatment of detainees in Zhanaozen in the Mangistau region, Tengrinews.kz reports, with reference to a public association. Public observation commissions came to PRI with a request to monitor places of freedom restriction in Zhanaonzen. "Overall, according to the observations of national experts in the field of human rights, the situation is calm. The information contained in various sources about the ongoing riots and new victims was not confirmed," Penal Reform International stated.
When visiting prisons, the experts focused on the conditions of detention, general health, sanitation, to the right to medical care and access to lawyers." One of the detained, Bakhytzhan Munalbayev, born 1989, from cell number 6, had a fracture in his left hand. According to him, the injury was received on 16 December 2011. Medical assistance was rendered and the hand was put in plaster. The trauma was registered in the medical journal when the detained man arrived. Munalbayev says that he receives regular injections of painkillers,” the report of PRI says.
No complaints about the torture were recorded.
Riots occurred in Zhanaozen on 16 December. 40 participants and organizers of the riots and pogroms were identified, 18 people were arrested. In addition, 10 people were arrested during the events in Shetpe.
