The UN Human Rights chief on Thursday said authorities in Kazakhstan must stick to strict “requirements of necessity and proportionality” after police said dozens of protestors had been killed in rioting in Almaty.
Michelle Bachelet said her office had heard alarming reports of deadly violence in Kazakhstan, including 12 police officers killed in Almaty, the country’s main city.
She urged all, including security forces and protestors, to refrain from violence and to seek a peaceful resolution of grievances.
“International law is clear: people have the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in a statement.
“At the same time, protesters, no matter how angry or aggrieved they may be, should not resort to violence against others.”
A state of emergency declared in several areas on Jan. 5, including in Almaty and the capital, Nur-Sultan, has been extended to all of the former Soviet republic in central Asia, including an 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew until Jan. 19.
The UN office quoted an Almaty police spokesperson, saying that security forces had killed dozens of protesters.
In addition, almost 1,000 people have reportedly been injured in the protests, which began on Jan. 2.
According to the Kazakh Interior Ministry, 12 law enforcement officers have died in the unrest, and 317 police officers and members of the National Guard have been injured.
Riot police allegedly used tear gas grenades, and flashbang grenades in clashes with demonstrators in Almaty, said the UN.
- Seized government buildings
Protesters seized some government buildings in the city, setting them on fire, and attempted to storm police stations.
According to reports, on Jan. 6, intense shooting erupted between the military and armed individuals in front of Almaty city hall.
Bachelet said lethal force, particularly live ammunition, should only be used as a last resort against specific individuals to address an imminent threat of death or severe injury.
“States do have the right to declare states of emergency under certain narrow circumstances, but any derogation of human rights is subject to strict requirements of necessity and proportionality,” said Bachelet.
“Certain rights, including the right to life, the prohibition against torture and other ill-treatment, and the right not to be arbitrarily detained continue to apply in all circumstances,” she said.
The request by the Kazakh authorities for foreign security forces to be sent to the country to maintain and restore public order under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) should be guided by international law standards, said the UN.
Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Armenia are members of the CSTO.
According to Kazakh officials, more than 2,000 people have been taken into police custody.
Bachelet called for all those arrested and detained solely for exercising their rights to peaceful protest and freedom of expression to be released and for all allegations of human rights violations to be promptly, independently, and thoroughly investigated./aa
