Astana Activist Detained After Solo Picket Against LGBT Propaganda Amendments

On December 3, Astana resident Yara Tychina held a solo picket near the House of Ministries and Parliament.

Holding a handmade transgender community flag, she appealed to the Senate, the Presidential Administration, and the president to reject amendments to the law banning “LGBT propaganda.”

She was detained a few minutes later, Orda.kz reports.

Tychina said she protested because, in her words, “there were no other ways to influence the state’s repressive policies.”

I’m not just against this law — it violates my rights, as well as the freedom of my friends, colleagues, loved ones, and, most importantly, my family, more than half of whom are members of the LGBT community,
 Yara said before being detained.

The amendments clearly state: any mention of LGBT people in a positive or neutral light, even in personal profiles, is propaganda. The fact that I'm an openly trans woman makes me a criminal under these amendments.

When police approached, Tychina did not resist and asked to finish her statement.

Her final words were addressed to the authorities:

I tearfully and heartily ask the Senate, the Presidential Administration, the President personally, and the Constitutional Court to reject the amendments. Otherwise, millions of Kazakhstanis will suffer. You will move closer to Russia, but you will repel international investment and damage Kazakhstan's status. But most importantly, you will harm people. You will harm my family. I beg you. Stop.

The human rights initiative REQUEST reported that lawyers are not being allowed access to the detainee.

Orda.kz has requested commentary from the police.

Less than a week earlier, KIMEP canceled a planned talk by Feminita co-founder Zhanar Sekerbayeva. The university cited “internal policy restrictions,” while Sekerbayeva said the true reason was discrimination against LGBTQ+ people

Original Author: Yegor Grozny