ODIHR monitoring for fairness and transparency of trials in Kazakhstan will continue in 2023

WARSAW, 23 January 2023 – Following the demonstrations that took place across Kazakhstan in January 2022, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) is continuing to monitor trials in the country to assess their conduct and contribute to their overall transparency and fairness.  

The right to a fair trial is a cornerstone of democracy. Following a welcome invitation by the Kazakh authorities and in co-operation with the Supreme Court, ODIHR began monitoring open trials related to the events of January 2022 in November last year. ODIHR is focusing on high-profile cases against former or current public officials, political and civil society activists, those involving charges of torture and other serious human rights violations, and cases against the organisers of the January 2022 events.

ODIHR’s monitoring is taking place in cities across the country, including in Almaty, Taldykorgan, and Taraz. So far, the Office has monitored 13 criminal cases and attended more than 70 court hearings, both in person and online.

The Office is not assessing the merits of the cases themselves, focusing mainly on the court procedures and their compliance with international democratic standards, evaluating the extent to which the right to a fair trial is respected. ODIHR has extensive experience in trial monitoring, with all monitors following well-established principles of impartiality and objectivity, ensuring at the same time that they in no way interfere in the process itself. ODIHR expects to publish a report summing up the monitoring findings and including a set of concrete recommendations in the first half of this year.

All OSCE countries have committed to abide by the rule of law, to allow the presence of observers in courts as a confidence-building measure, and to ensure the right to a fair and public trial by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law.