KZBlog

A journalist with the Kazakh language service of RFE/RL was arrested in Almaty on the 15th of December and appears to be being held in detention without charges. From a question answered by the Office of the Spokesmen of the US State Department:

Azamat Zhetpisbayev, a correspondent for the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Kazakhstan affiliate Radio Azzatyk, was arrested December 15 by Almaty financial police, who declined to specify the reason for the arrest. He is being held in a temporary detention facility. There is no indication that the arrest is connected with Zhetpisbayev’s employment at Radio Azzatyk. We will continue to follow this case closely.

Although he was arrested by the financial police, Zhetpisbayev is known for being an active youth opposition figure in Kazakhstan and Central Asia as a whole. Zhetisbayev was the leader of the Union of Patriotic Youth of Kazakhstan, and was involved in organizing or assisting youth protestors in Krygyzstan, presumably during the Tulip Revolution, for which he apologized. However he was detained in Bishkek and you can read an interview with him there.

He was also active in calling on youth in Kazakhstan to organize protests and rallies in Kazakhstan during the Presidential election last year:

This governmental body referred to the letter that emerged recently in the on-line newspaper “Navigator”. This message signed by Mahambet Abzhan and Azamat Zhetpisbayev urged Kazkhstani youth organizations to form a united front and grip the power not via elections but using quite different ingredients: people’s uprising, armed protests etc. Despite his relatively young age M Abzhan is a famous political figure in certain circles says CNB. This man headed the youth wing of the Communist party and closely cooperated with some leaders of the organization for the fair Kazakhstan. The Ministry of Interior hasn’t reacted to the provocation of the opposition

Mahambet Abzhan was also detained earlier this year.

Reporters Without Borders has a statement here.