Online rallies under quarantine conditions. Activists — about everyday life during a state of emergency

After the introduction of a state of emergency in Kazakhstan due to the spread of coronavirus, some activists who had previously attended peaceful anti-government rallies and single pickets switched to a new form of protests — online rallies. Others say quarantine «tied their hands».

Activists of the unregistered movement «Koshe Party» («Street Party»), who held single pickets demanding a change of government and changes to the Constitution, say that after the introduction of a state of emergency, they «switched from offline to online». Askhat Zheksebaev, who went out on single pickets for a total of 36 days and was arrested six times for this, says that activists will continue to put forward demands to the authorities using other methods.

We work the same way, but remotely. We shoot videos, flash mobs, challendzhi. Our requirements have not changed. The only thing is that we cannot go out on single pickets. If previously we were brought to justice in accordance with Article 488 of the Code of Administrative Offenses («Violation of the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the procedure for organizing and holding peaceful assemblies, rallies, picket processions and demonstrations». —Ed.), now active participants in the movement «Koshe party» are accused of participating in the activities of an unregistered organization in accordance with paragraph 10 of Article 489 of the code. We are not doing anything illegal, we are not calling for a violent change of power. We specifically say that we are not satisfied with Nazarbayev’s policies, we are not satisfied with Tokayev’s policies. We are glad that after our demands we released Mukhtar Dzhakishev (the former head of «Kazatomprom», sentenced to 14 years in prison in a corruption case, released on parole on March 19. — Ed.). Our main demand is — the release of all other political prisoners, and we will continue to demand this, — says Askhat Zheksebaev.

Activist from Semey Aliya Isenova, who picked up the challenge «Koshe party», reports that she was called guilty of participating in the activities of an unregistered organization and was fined.

I was told that a challenge on social media to post a video demanding a change of government is illegal. I was fined 50 monthly calculation indices (132 thousand tenge, or about $300. — Ed.). Before that, I was accused under the same article, 489 [of the Code of Administrative Offenses], for going out on a single picket in support of «Koshe Party», I then paid a fine of 50 MCI, but I will not pay this fine, — says the activist.

According to Isenova, fines in the amount of 50 MCI on the same charge of participating in the activities of unregistered public associations were issued to other activists from Semey — Raigul Sadyrbaeva, Anar Kalieva, Kuat Ualiv and Kanat Nikambayev.

Activist from Almaty Alnur Ilyashev, who went out to protests putting forward political demands to the authorities, notes the increase in online activity with the country going into a state of emergency.

The lockdown didn't affect our activity much. Of course, there will be no rallies, but activists are holding online rallies and signing petitions. We will focus on social networks. We make video messages. I think people who stay at home will have a rethink. This temporary pause will make many people think. Moreover, those statements, clumsy steps on the part of the authorities, [ex-president] Nazarbayev’s appeal to create a fund to save Kazakhstan, it seems, will not remain optimistic among those who passed off wishful thinking and extolled the role of elbasa («Leader of the Nation» — the title assigned to former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. — Ed.). All the events taking place in the country since last year show that we have an ineffective state apparatus, it is mired in corruption, he believes.

Activist from Almaty Irina Isabekova, who raises the problems of mothers of many children, says that the state of emergency has disrupted all their plans.

We were preparing material on the expenditure of funds in the amount of 10 billion tenge allocated to the welfare department [of the city of Almaty], including five billion tenge for the program «Bakytty Otbasy». In this regard, a large working group was created, the akimat promised us to give a monitoring group and a report on «Bakytty Otbasy». We were also going to go to the prosecutor's office and the court under the «compaction development» program, but the quarantine tied us hand and foot. Now akimats don’t let you in; everyone works online. They ask us to send them our proposals for consideration. But it is clear that until you go to them, they will not work and accept our offers. In addition, there is the sensational law on rallies and the health code. Therefore, I demand that all documents and plans that are important for societylaws were not adopted until the end of the state of emergency, so that the public would also have the opportunity to react and express their opinion, says Irina Isabekova.

The leader of the initiative group to create the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, activist Zhanbolat Mamai, claims that «he and his supporters took a short break».

Under lockdown, we suspend private meetings, we don't want to endanger people's lives. Our last meeting was on March 15th. But we constantly keep in touch through social networks and by phone. Even before the quarantine, we learned that our supporters in Zhanaozen were summoned to the National Security Committee and were accused of «inciting hatred». The authorities released Mukhtar Dzhakishev and thereby wanted to suppress the protest sentiments of activists in the country. However, the system has not changed, and the authorities do not stop persecuting activists for their political views. It is obvious that the protests will continue, — Zhanbolat Mamai believes.