It is planned to open a Coordination Council for the protection of human rights and freedoms in connection with the events in Kazakhstan. Coordinator of the Congress on Human Rights in Central Asia Tursunbek Akun told at a press conference.

The human rights activist asks the CSTO to help implement his initiative.

«This initiative has been coordinated with other human rights activists from the CSTO member countries. I think that human rights activists, who wish, can come to Bishkek, and then, if Kazakhstan allows it, go to the Republic of Kazakhstan. What happened in the neighboring country is, of course, a tragedy. The number of deaths among the security forces is known, but it is not known how many losses the civil society suffered,» Tursunbek Akun said.

The human rights activist explained that with the help of the CSTO, he intends to monitor the closed institutions of the neighboring country, where those suspected of participating in mass riots are kept.

«There is information that there are other migrants from Kyrgyzstan among the detainees, in addition to those who are already known. I think dozens of people who were not guilty of anything were detained. We want to monitor and find out how many people were detained, whether they were subjected to torture. The task of the Coordination Council is to protect human rights,» Tursunbek Akun said.

It is known that at least four Kyrgyzstanis were detained in Kazakhstan, they are suspected of participating in the riots. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Consulate General are working to release them and send them home.

Mass protests in Kazakhstan began on January 2, 2022. Residents of Zhanaozen and Aktau in Mangistau region opposed the increase in prices for liquefied gas, then the protests spread to other regions. The situation is slowly stabilizing; the anti-terrorist operation continues. Internet access has been restored.

President of the republic Kassym-Jomart Tokayev introduced a state of emergency in the republic, dismissed the government and became the head of the Security Council. At his request, the CSTO countries sent peacekeeping forces to Kazakhstan. Scorpion special unit was sent to the republic from Kyrgyzstan.

The CSTO mission in Kazakhstan has been successfully completed. Withdrawal of troops began yesterday.