Difference between revisions of "Bolat Atabaev"
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Bolat Atabaev is a Kazakh theater director who in 2012 was charged with "inciting social discord" for his role in the 2011 Mangystau riots.<ref name=RFE156>Template:Cite web</ref> Amnesty International designated him a prisoner of conscience.<ref name=AI>Template:Cite web</ref> He was released on 3 July 2012.<ref name=EA />
Role in Zhanaozen protests
In May 2011, oil workers in the city of Zhanaozen in Kazakhstan's Mangystau Province began striking. Atabaev joined the workers and worked to communicate their demands to authorities.<ref name=AI />
On 16–17 December 2011, the region saw a series of riots in which striking oil workers clashed with state security forces. At least 15 civilians were killed and 100 wounded by police shootings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Atabaev publicly protested the use of lethal force against the protesters.<ref name=AI /> In early 2012, he joined a public commission founded by activists to investigate the violence.<ref name=RFE32>Template:Cite web</ref> In March, he also staged a play in Almaty which dealt with the Zhanaozen events indirectly.<ref name=RFE156/> Titled Avalanche, the play showed daily life in a mountain village in which villagers must obey every order of their elders in order to avoid actions which might trigger a deadly avalanche. After the elders order a pregnant woman to be buried alive, however, the villagers realize the threat of avalanche was manufactured by the elders to maintain control, and they rebel. All proceeds from the play were donated to the families of those who died in the Zhanaozen shootings.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Criminal charge
On 6 January 2012, the National Security Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan (NSC) charged Atabaev with "inciting social discord" for his role in the protests. He was later released on bail.<ref name=AI/> The charge carries a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment.<ref name=RFE32/> Several other opposition figures were arrested in connection with the protests, including journalist Zhanbolat Mamay, politician Serik Sapargali, and Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan leader Vladimir Kozlov.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In early June, Atabaev refused to report for an interrogation, which the court had made a condition of his bail. On 14 June, the court authorized his arrest, and he was arrested by the NSC the following day. Atabaev stated that he had "refused to go for interrogation so as to protest against the charges brought against him and to highlight the injustice of the government's treatment of protesters and striking workers in Zhanaozen."<ref name=AI/>
Amnesty International condemned the charges, which it described as "trumped-up".<ref name=AI /> The organization designated Atabaev a prisoner of conscience, "detained solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression".<ref name=AI /> Human Rights Watch also protested the arrest of Atabaev and other activists, stating that "If the Kazakh authorities can prove these political activists were involved in the violence in Zhanaozen, they shouldn’t need to resort to using vague and undefined criminal allegations to imprison them ... The 'inciting social discord' charge should be dropped immediately and those against whom there is no evidence of any violent activity should be released from custody."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Anti-censorship group ARTICLE 19 described the charge as "spurious" and "alarming", warning that the arrests of Atabaev and others would have "a chilling effect on freedom of expression in Kazakhstan".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The German government called for his release, with Human Rights Commissioner Markus Loening describing Atabaev as "guilty of only using his constitutional right of free expression".<ref name=RFE206>Template:Cite web</ref> German film director Volker Schlöndorff, a friend of Atabaev's, also appealed to the Kazakh government on his behalf.<ref name=RFE206 />
Atabaev was released on 3 July after being made to sign a document stating that "I am sorry that the bloodshed happened". His official status was subsequently changed from "accused" to "witness".<ref name=EA>Template:Cite web</ref>
Recognition
In August 2012, Atabaev will be awarded the Goethe Medal of Germany's Goethe-Institut, a prize of the German government for non-citizens for artistic contributions.<ref name=RFE156/>
