• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: KAZAKHSTAN: RELEASE OPPOSITION PARTY LEADER: ZHANBOLAT MAMAY (Kazakhstan: UA 31.22)

April 1, 2022

Zhanbolat Mamay, journalist and leader of the unregistered opposition Democratic Party of Kazakhstan was kept in custody as a criminal suspect after already wrongfully spending 15 days in “administrative detention” for peaceful protest. On March 14, 2022, a court remanded him in custody for two months during the investigation on charges of insulting a government representative (Criminal Code, Article 378) and spreading false information (Article 274). Amnesty International believes this prosecution is politically motivated and Mamay should be immediately released from detention and the charges dropped.

TAKE ACTION:
  1. Please take action as-soon-as possible. This Urgent Action expires on May 12, 2022.
  2. Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  3. Click here to let us know the actions you took on Urgent Action 31.22. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.
CONTACT INFORMATION
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Republic of Kazakhstan Nur-Sultan Mangilik Yel St, 6 Fax: +8 7172 74-56-31 Twitter: @TokayevKZ Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Yerzhan Ashikbayev Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan 1401 16th St NW, Washington DC 20036 Phone: 202 232 5488 Email: [email protected] Twitter: @KazakhEmbassy ; @KZAmbUS Facebook: @KazakhEmbassyDC Salutation: Dear Ambassador
SAMPLE LETTER Dear Mr President, I am writing to urge you to take such measures as may be necessary for Zhanbolat Mamay to be release from detention immediately and the charges against him dropped. I am concerned that the March 14, 2022, decision to hold Mamay in detention and the criminal case against him constitute politically motivated retribution for his critical speech and his leadership of the unregistered opposition party, the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan. Mamay is currently under investigation on charges of insulting a government representative (Criminal Code, Article 378) and spreading false information (Article 274) related to two separate incidents dating back to 2021. Previously he was already wrongfully sentenced to 15 days of “administrative detention” for organizing an “unsanctioned” meeting and was due to be released on March 12, 2022, but was re-arrested. I urge you to take all necessary steps in your power to ensure that Zhanbolat Mamay is released from detention immediately and to put a stop his unfounded prosecution related to the peaceful exercise of his right to free expression and freedom of assembly. Sincerely, [YOUR NAME] ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
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