UNOG Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Kazakhstan Unrest - OHCHR
/
2:17
/
MP4
/
168.2 MB

Edited News | OHCHR

UNOG Bi-Weekly Press Briefing: Kazakhstan Unrest - OHCHR

As the death toll from the recent unrest in Kazakhstan mounts to 164, the UN Office for Human Rights (OHCHR) today requested “prompt, independent, impartial investigations into these killings and that would include whether unnecessary and disproportionated use of force was made by security forces”.

Close to 10,000 people are now estimated to be held in detention following the riots. "We understand that the Ministry of Interior has announced that some 9 900 people are in detention as of the 11th of January. Now, this is clearly a huge number," said OHCHR spokesperson Liz Throssell at a news briefing at the United Nations in Geneva.

"What we would say is that under the international law, people have the right to protest peacefully and the right to express their opinions. And they shouldn't be detained simply for expressing their opinions”, Throssell added.

“All those arrested and detained solely for exercising these rights should be released immediately. Now, of course, we have seen the damage and destruction for example in Almaty, we have seen the burned buildings. So clearly among these and we don't have a breakdown of who is in detention - it is a huge number as I say - but clearly there will be some people who have been arrested and are likely to be charged," the OHCHR spokesperson said.

She added, that “at the same time, of course, we have to also stress clearly that there were also armed individuals who were taking to the streets of Almaty and other parts of Kazakhstan”.

Throssell stressed that all detainees should have access to a lawyer, as part of their basic human rights.

What is very important for us is that the ombudsperson, the Kazakh ombudsperson, is able to fulfill fully her mandate related to what is called the national preventive mechanism and that relates to torture by visiting places of detention”, said OHCHR’s Liz Throssell.

According to news agencies, protests began on Sunday when the government lifted its price cap on liquified petroleum gas (LPG), a popular fuel for cars and heating. Since then, the unrest has spread to include longstanding political grievances.

A state of emergency, which was declared in several areas of Kazakhstan on 5 January ( including in the main city of Almaty and the capital, Nur-Sultan) has been extended to the whole country.

A week after the start of the riots that shook the country, calm is gradually returning to Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. A day of mourning is being observed throughout the country, while the telephone network, Internet and public transport are gradually being restored.

-ends-

  1. Exterior wide shot, United Nations flags flying
  2. Wide shot, press briefing room
  3. SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “We understand that the Ministry of Interior has announced that some 9 900 people are in detention as of the 11th of January. Now, this is clearly a huge number. What we would say, of course, is that under the international law, people have the right to protest peacefully and the right to express their opinions. And they shouldn't be detained simply for expressing their opinions”.
  4. Medium shot, podium at the press briefing at the United Nations in Geneva
    1. SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “All those arrested and detained solely for exercising these rights should be released immediately. Now, of course, we have seen the damage and destruction for example in Almaty, we have seen the burned buildings. So clearly among these and we don't have a breakdown of who is in detention - it is a huge number as I say - but clearly there will be some people who have been arrested and are likely to be charged”.
    2. Medium shot, cameraman in press briefing
    3. SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “What is very important for us is that the ombudsperson, the Kazakh ombudsperson, is able to fulfill fully her mandate related to what is called the national preventive mechanism. And that relates to torture by visiting places of detention”.
    1. Medium shot, journalist in press room
    2. SOUNDBITE (English): Liz Throssell, OHCHR spokesperson: “With regard to what happened last week, there are, of course, prompt, independent, impartial investigations into these killings and that would include, for example, whether unnecessary and disproportionate use of force was made by the security forces. at the same time, of course, we have to also stress clearly that there were also armed individuals who were taking to the streets of Almaty and other parts of Kazakhstan”.
    3. Medium shot, journalist sitting in front of screen at UN press briefing
    4. Close up, hands typing
    5. Close up, camera screen with Liz Throssel on podium

Similar Stories

Gaza update-OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Gaza update-OHCHR ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan on Palestinians killed seeking food in Gaza

Iran update - OHCHR

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR

Iran update - OHCHR ENG FRA

Iran-Israel war: UN rights office concerned over strike on Tehran prison, reported espionage arrests

Tehran’s notorious Evin prison known for holding dissidents should not be a target, the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHR) said on Tuesday, a day after a reported Israeli strike on the complex.

Gaza update - UNICEF, WHO 20 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNICEF , WHO

Gaza update - UNICEF, WHO 20 June 2025 ENG FRA

Death and suffering in Gaza are ever-present and the enclave's people now have little choice but to risk their lives to fetch aid supplies, UN agencies said on Friday. “I met a little boy who was wounded by a tank shell at one of these sites on the final day of me leaving Gaza - I learnt that this little boy had since died of those injuries,” said UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder. “That speaks to both what is happening at these sites and what is not happening when it comes to medical evacuations.”

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva

1

1

1

Edited News | UNCTAD

World Investment Report 2025 – Launch in Geneva ENG FRA

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) launched today the World Investment Report 2025. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) fell by 11%, marking the second consecutive year of decline and confirming a deepening slowdown in productive capital flows, according to the report.

Afghan refugee and journalist Zahra Nader

1

1

1

Edited News

Afghan refugee and journalist Zahra Nader ENG FRA

Afghan journalist Zahra Nader fled twice due to Taliban rule, highlighting severe women's rights issues.

Palestinian refugee from the war in Gaza and photojournalist Motaz Azaiza

1

1

1

Edited News

Palestinian refugee from the war in Gaza and photojournalist Motaz Azaiza ENG FRA

Gazan photojournalist Motaz Azaiza documents war's impact, gaining global attention but facing personal peril.

Human Rights Council - Iran

1

1

1

Edited News | HRC

Human Rights Council - Iran ENG FRA

As the Iran-Israel crisis continued into a sixth day, the UN deputy human rights chief Nada Al-Nashif called for urgent talks to end the continuing exchanges of missile attacks between Tehran and Tel-Aviv.

HRC Press Conference: Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan -17 June 2025

2

1

1

Press Conferences , Edited News | HRC

HRC Press Conference: Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for the Sudan -17 June 2025 ENG FRA

Heavy fighting in Sudan continues to escalate as a “direct result” of the continued flow of arms into the country meaning that the war is far from over, top independent human rights investigators said on Tuesday.

Gaza mass casualty incidents  WHO

1

1

1

Edited News | WHO

Gaza mass casualty incidents WHO ENG FRA

More Gazans killed trying to get food, healthcare near to ‘full disaster’

Gaza’s health system is at breaking point, overwhelmed time and again by scores of patients killed or injured near aid distribution sites, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Update on Democratic Republique of Congo to the 59th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

La situation en République démocratique du Congo est aujourd’hui encore plus grave et alarmante, a averti lundi le Haut-Commissaire des Nations Unies aux droits de l’homme Volker Türk. 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Global Update to the 59th Human Rights Council

1

1

1

Edited News | OHCHR , UNOG

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk Global Update to the 59th Human Rights Council ENG FRA

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk on Monday delivered his global update to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, highlighting key issues and trends, and the human rights situation in some 60 countries. 

Eastern DRC update - UNDP 13 June 2025

1

1

1

Edited News | UNDP

Eastern DRC update - UNDP 13 June 2025 ENG FRA

As diplomatic efforts continue to end fighting in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the UN development agency (UNDP) issued an appeal on Friday on behalf of people uprooted by the violence to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.