LGBT Activist Reportedly Forcibly Taken to Military Office in Almaty

An LGBT activist, Aziyat Agishev, was allegedly taken by force to a military enlistment office in Almaty, Orda.kz reports. His lawyer claims he is being held illegally without an official summons.

The human rights foundation NeMolchi reported that Agishev was forcibly taken to the enlistment office. According to the organization, he had not received any draft notice.

We received information that Aziyat was taken against his will, his clothes were torn, and his phone was confiscated. He is currently unreachable, and communication with him has been lost. We are calling for an urgent response from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the foundation’s statement said.

Lawyer Azamat Sagal added that Agishev is being unlawfully detained at the enlistment office.

He stated that the activist is not being released, and his relatives have already filed a complaint with the military prosecutor’s office.

The deputy military prosecutor of the Almaty garrison promised to take the situation under control. A report on those responsible is already being registered. The enlistment office has no authority to detain or hold people — these actions are illegal, Sagal said.

Aziyat Agishev is known as an activist advocating for LGBT rights in Kazakhstan.

Cases of forced conscription are not uncommon.

In several cities, young men are periodically taken from the streets or directly from colleges. The Ministry of Defense has stated that such raids target “persistent draft evaders,” but human rights defenders argue that these actions violate constitutional rights.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov