The UN Working Group Demands to Take Measures to Release Masimov

The new report of the UN working group on arbitrary detention was not focused on human rights activists and organizations, but on one of the former heavyweights of Kazakh politics – Karim Massimov.

Massimov was twice the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan. He was the chairman of the National Security Committee before his arrest.

Finita La Comedian

The report of the UN working group claims that Masimov's arrest and detention in jail are part of the current government's suppression of opposition forces. The report claims that this was done in order to silence political opponents. During the events of Bloody January, thousands of people were arrested. Most of them have not been identified.

The last time Massimov appeared in the media was during a meeting of the Security Council in Akorda, on January 6, 2022.

Local authorities have appointed him a state lawyer. The UN report claims that this is the only thing that is known about the Masimov case.

It is not known whether his defence lawyer has evidence tied to the former national security head's guilt. Information is not disclosed, as the investigation is classified as "top secret".

Meanwhile, as stated in the working group's report, Masimov will be held in jail throughout the investigation. Such a decision was reportedly made by "an unidentified judicial authority" on January 8, 2022. The official name of the court is not disclosed for security reasons. The decision of the judicial body was not made public. It is also unclear whether Massimov was present at the court hearing.

An Apple a Day Keeps The Doctor Away

The report also says that on January 13, 2022, the KNB issued another press statement. An "additional pre-trial investigation" was launched against Masimov on the facts of "usurpation of power and abuse of official position." At the same time, the report claims there is no legislative justification for these accusations.

According to the report, the ex-chairman has been kept in absolute isolation since his arrest. Masimov does not have the ability to contact his family or an independent lawyer. He also does not receive medical care. The suspect's relatives do not know anything about the conditions of his detention. The family's requests to contact Masimov have also been repeatedly rejected.

The mediator in obtaining any kind of information about his case was a lawyer appointed by the State.

Apparently, Masimov had no contact with his lawyer from January 15 to January 28, 2022. He reportedly fell ill with coronavirus and was sent to quarantine. Although the defence lawyer returned to work on January 28, Masimov's family and relatives still remain in the dark about the case.

What Are The Reasons for Such Isolation?

The report indicates that attempts by Masimov's relatives to contact the lawyer he chose were unsuccessful.

Authorities allegedly insist that any non-state lawyer must undergo an official check. He will then have access to information on the Masimov case and will be able to represent his interests in court. This process began on January 10, 2022, and is ongoing.

The report states that the deadline for the end of the check is unknown. As of today, all the defence lawyer's requests for additional information on the Masimov case have been rejected.

Original Author: Tamerlan Salyk