British Parliamentarians launch Inquiry Commission to investigate the treatment and detention of Zhanbolat Mamay by the Republic of Kazakhstan

Senior British Parliamentarians have launched a non-governmental Commission of Inquiry into the detention and treatment of Zhanbolat Mamay - a popular politician, journalist, and leader of the ‘unregistered’ opposition Democratic Party in Kazakhstan. 

Mr Mamay has been detained since February 2022, after being accused by Kazakh authorities of having involvement in orchestrating the January 2022 liquified gas protests. It was reported that the government response to the protests led to the death of over 227 people in a lethal crackdown that has become known as 'Bloody January'. 

Supporters of Mr Mamay claim his arrest, detention and prosecution is an attempt by the Kazakh government to suppress opposition voices in Kazakhstan. International human rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called for Mr Mamay’s immediate release, and for charges against him to be dropped. 

The Commission’s Chair, Lord Macdonald of River Glaven Kt KC, Rt Hon Andrew Mitchel MP (who is no longer part of the Commission, having been appointed as a minister in the government), and Rushanara Ali MP formally wrote to the Kazakh embassy in London on 11 October 2022, inviting the government to participate in the Commission’s inquiry, and requesting assistance with a planned visit to Kazakhstan to interview Mr Mamay as well as other key witnesses. On 20 October 2022, the Commission met with the representatives of Kazakhstan at the Republic’s Embassy in London to discuss Kazakhstan’s engagement with the Commission. 

The Commission is currently in the process of receiving evidence in relation to the detention and treatment of Mr Mamay and other political prisoners and will review evidence sent to them by witnesses, Kazakh human rights groups, international human rights organisations, and third State country reports. The Commission intends to hold an open evidence session to hear live evidence from witnesses later this year. Evidence can be submitted to the Commission through its website at www.inquirycommission.com. 

The Commission will review evidence gathered by Kazakh-based human rights groups about the January 2022 protests. Serious concerns were expressed by human rights advocates about President Tokayev's announcement on live television that he had designated the protestors as ‘terrorists’ and ‘militants’, and authorised law enforcement to use a ‘shoot to kill’ policy, promising to ‘eliminate’ all those that did not surrender. 

The action by the authorities led to the death of 227 people, with hundreds left injured and over 10,000 detained. Many are still ‘missing’. Calls for an international independent Inquiry into the January protests remain unheeded by the Kazakh government. 

The Commission was convened by Bindmans LLP on behalf of citizens of Kazakhstan concerned about the use of the criminal process to suppress political opposition and free speech. 

The key areas of the Commission’s review are: 

• • Investigating the use of criminal legal processes by the Republic of Kazakhstan against Mr Mamay and, where relevant, other political opponents and opposition politicians.

• • Considering material collected and provided to the Commission by NGOs, official investigators and others, which provides evidence or information on alleged violations and abuses of domestic and international law (insofar as relevant to the use of the criminal legal processes by the Republic of Kazakhstan against political opponents, and opposition politicians in the course of the January 2022 demonstrations), including:

Bindmans LLP will support the Commission, acting as secretariat comprising the necessary expertise to implement the mandate, including professional investigators and legal analysts. 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

• Bindmans LLP convene a non-governmental Commission of Inquiry on behalf of concerned citizens of Kazakhstan into the detention and prosecution of popular Kazakhstan opposition politician and journalist.

• • Former UK Director of Public Prosecutions and senior barrister Lord Macdonald Kt KC chairs the Commission, joined by fellow commission members, Rushanara Ali MP and Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP. (Note: Andrew Mitchel MP is no longer a member of the Commission, having been appointed to a ministerial role in government, and will be replaced by a suitable Parliamentarian).

• • Mamay Zhanbolat, leader of the opposition Democratic Party, has been detained since February 2022 for allegations that he was involved in the orchestration of ‘Bloody January’ protests. President Tokayev announced on live television that he had designated the January 2022 protestors as ‘terrorists’ and ‘militants’, and authorised law enforcement to use a ‘shoot to kill’ policy, promising to ‘eliminate’ all those that did not surrender.

• • In October 2022, Commission members met the Kazakhstan Embassy in London to discuss engagement and access to Mamay in Kazakhstan.

• • International human rights organisations call for Mamay’s release and international independent investigation into the January 2022 protests that saw 227 deaths, and an authorisation from Kazakhstan’s president for law enforcement agencies to ‘shoot to kill’.

• • The Commission launches its website and calls for evidence from all interested parties: www.inquirycommission.com.