The United Nations Office at Geneva
Multimedia Newsroom
As the death toll from the recent unrest in Kazakhstan mounts to 164, the UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) today requested “prompt, independent, impartial investigations into these killings and that would include whether unnecessary and disproportionated use of force was made by security forces”.
Close to 10,000 people are now estimated to be held in detention following the riots. "We understand that the Ministry of Interior has announced that some 9 900 people are in detention as of the 11th of January. Now, this is clearly a huge number," said OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.
"What we would say is that under the international law, people have the right to protest peacefully and the right to express their opinions. And they shouldn't be detained simply for expressing their opinions”, Throssell added.
“All those arrested and detained solely for exercising these rights should be released immediately. Now, of course, we have seen the damage and destruction for example in Almaty, we have seen the burned buildings. So clearly among these and we don't have a breakdown of who is in detention - it is a huge number as I say - but clearly there will be some people who have been arrested and are likely to be charged," the OHCHR spokesperson said.
She added, that “at the same time, of course, we have to also stress clearly that there were also armed individuals who were taking to the streets of Almaty and other parts of Kazakhstan”.
Throssell stressed that all detainees should have access to a lawyer, as part of their basic human rights.
“What is very important for us is that the ombudsperson, the Kazakh ombudsperson, is able to fulfill fully her mandate related to what is called the national preventive mechanism and that relates to torture by visiting places of detention”, said OHCHR’s Liz Throssell.
According to news agencies, protests began on Sunday when the government lifted its price cap on liquified petroleum gas (LPG), a popular fuel for cars and heating. Since then, the unrest has spread to include longstanding political grievances.
A state of emergency, which was declared in several areas of Kazakhstan on 5 January ( including in the main city of Almaty and the capital, Nur-Sultan) has been extended to the whole country.
A week after the start of the riots that shook the country, calm is gradually returning to Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. A day of mourning is being observed throughout the country, while the telephone network, Internet and public transport are gradually being restored.
-ends-
- Exterior wide shot, United Nations flags flying
- Wide shot, press briefing room
- SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “We understand that the Ministry of Interior has announced that some 9 900 people are in detention as of the 11th of January. Now, this is clearly a huge number. What we would say, of course, is that under the international law, people have the right to protest peacefully and the right to express their opinions. And they shouldn't be detained simply for expressing their opinions”.
- Medium shot, podium at the press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva
- SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “All those arrested and detained solely for exercising these rights should be released immediately. Now, of course, we have seen the damage and destruction for example in Almaty, we have seen the burned buildings. So clearly among these and we don't have a breakdown of who is in detention - it is a huge number as I say - but clearly there will be some people who have been arrested and are likely to be charged”.
- Medium shot, cameraman in press briefing
- SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “What is very important for us is that the ombudsperson, the Kazakh ombudsperson, is able to fulfill fully her mandate related to what is called the national preventive mechanism. And that relates to torture by visiting places of detention”.
- Medium shot, journalist in press room
- SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “With regard to what happened last week, there are, of course, prompt, independent, impartial investigations into these killings and that would include, for example, whether unnecessary and disproportionate use of force was made by the security forces. at the same time, of course, we have to also stress clearly that there were also armed individuals who were taking to the streets of Almaty and other parts of Kazakhstan”.
- Medium shot, journalist sitting in front of screen at UN press briefing
- Close up, hands typing
- Close up, camera screen with Liz Throssel on podium
Similar Stories
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
The appointment on Thursday of Karla Quintana as head of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in the Syrian Arab Republic is a key development after nearly a year and a half of work by the UN Human Rights Office supporting the institution’s launch.
1
1
1
Edited News | IOM , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO
The head of the UN migration agency stressed on Friday that Syria is in no position to take back millions of Syrians following the fall of the Assad regime, while there is an urgent need to “re-evaluate” sanctions impacting the war-ravaged country.
1
1
1
Edited News | IIIM , UNHCR
Syria: ‘Key priority’ is to preserve evidence of crimes – UN investigators
In Syria, new access to evidence of horrific human rights violations means that accountability may be closer than ever – if only proof can be preserved, a top UN investigator said on Tuesday.
1
1
1
Edited News | OSE , ICRC , UNHCR
Syria: UN and partners urge action to preserve evidence of prison atrocities, stabilize country
Since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria five days ago, hundreds of people have rushed to Saydnaya prison, desperate to find loved ones. Disturbing images from the prison and other detention centers have since surfaced, exposing the “unimaginable barbarity Syrians have endured for years,” said Jenifer Fenton, spokesperson for the UN special envoy for Syria, on Friday.
1
1
2
Edited News | UNRWA
Gaza: “Sickening normalisation” of suffering, amid attacks on people and aid convoys
Ongoing military operations by the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) in Gaza continue to devastate Palestinian children and families, with mounting casualties and a critical lack of humanitarian aid for the desperate population.
“Local media reporting here that last night, 30 people were killed in this area in strikes” said a senior emergency officer with the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), Louise Wateridge, speaking to reporters in Geneva from central Gaza.
2
1
2
Press Conferences , Edited News | OHCHR
Rights experts call for end to impunity for Israel’s violations of international law
Four independent human rights experts have jointly called for the international community to sanction Israel’s conduct of hostilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as in the wider Middle East region - including in Syria, Lebanon and Iran. They also called for the restoration of trust in the international justice system through the abandonment of “extreme interpretations” and “double standards” in the application of the universal norms regulating the conduct of war.
1
1
1
Edited News | OCHA , UNHCR
Syria: needs continue to grow amid highly uncertain situation, say aid teams
The historic power shift in Syria and the still volatile situation two days after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime have increased humanitarian needs in a country where nearly 17 million people, including millions of internally displaced, already depended on humanitarian aid before the recent events, UN aid teams said on Tuesday.
2
1
3
Edited News , Press Conferences | OSES
Barely 48 hours since opposition forces including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) swept into Damascus and forced out President Bashar al-Assad, the top UN negotiator tasked with helping Syrians’ create a peaceful and democratic future insisted that nothing could be taken for granted.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday called on States to do all in their power to end senseless conflicts and suffering.
1
1
1
Edited News | WHO
No evacuation order given before Kamal Adwan Hospital strike, says WHO
One of the last partially functional health centres in northern Gaza was reportedly hit again overnight into Friday by several strikes, leaving four health workers among the casualties and the dead, according to the UN World Health Organization (WHO).
2
1
2
Edited News , Press Conferences | OCHA
More than 280,000 people have been uprooted in northwest Syria in a matter of days following the sudden and massive offensive into Government-controlled areas led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is sanctioned by the Security Council as a terrorist group.
1
1
1
Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG
UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has called on the Georgian authorities to respect and protect the rights to freedoms of expression and peaceful assembly following several nights of protests that were marred by violence, and dispersed using disproportionate, and in some cases unnecessary, force by the police in the capital, Tbilisi.