[ad_1]
One 12 months in the past, state media largely ignored the most important outbreak of civil unrest in Kazakhstan’s historical past. The job of informing the general public objectively in regards to the widespread protests fell on unbiased reporters and some so-called citizen journalists and bloggers who did their jobs at nice private danger. These journalists have been attacked by protesters, assailed and tear-gassed by police, shot with rubber bullets, detained, and in some circumstances arrested, overwhelmed, and imprisoned.
When the air, so not too long ago stuffed with smoke from grenades and bullets, each rubber and actual, cleared, reporters have been those urgent the federal government for a full accounting of the 238 folks killed, greater than 4,500 injured, round 10,000 detained, and several other hundred reportedly tortured.
That is the story of the Qandy Qantar — “Bloody January” — rebellion by the eyes of those that coated it, starting in Zhanaozen and ending in Almaty.
You’ll be able to learn this sequence in English at The Diplomat and in Russian and Kazakh at Orda.kz.
ALMATY, Kazakhstan: Riot police have been making arrests in entrance of the Alatau Theater on January 4 when journalist Bek Baitas noticed a protester with blood masking his face. Bek stepped nearer to movie. That’s when a riot officer grabbed his arm and pulled him towards a police van.
“I’m a journalist,” Bek mentioned. The 21-year-old Kazakh version editor for Orda.kz held up his press identification and pointed to his press arm band. He hoped the police would let him go as they’d finished the day gone by.
As a substitute, the officer swore at him, punched Bek twice within the liver, and ordered him to get within the van.
The van held 10 protesters and one other journalist, a former colleague of Bek’s. The 2 livestreamed their scenario to Fb. After they reached the police station, one of many officers twisted Bek’s hand making an attempt to get his cellphone and smashed the display screen.
Three folks interrogated Bek for practically an hour: “What are you doing right here within the protest? What was your principal objective? Have you learnt the founding father of DVK (Democratic Selection of Kazakhstan)? Do you like your nation?”
Bek answered their questions, however added, “I’m a journalist. You haven’t any proper to detain me.”
Though he knew he may ask for a lawyer, Bek mentioned he needed to expertise what it was prefer to be detained and questioned. Earlier than releasing him, police stood Bek in entrance of a digital camera and prodded him to say, “On this constructing I used to be not overwhelmed.”
Bek’s three hours in police custody didn’t thwart his willpower to cowl the protests. Over the subsequent two days, Bek discovered himself in the midst of a battle between protesters and police, driving on streets as folks have been firing weapons, and following a band of marauders wielding stolen police batons.
“I may do my work from a distance, however I needed to be in the midst of all the pieces,” he mentioned.
Protesters marched by the streets of Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest metropolis. Photograph credit score: Chingiz Ualikhan.
Confidence Amongst Protesters
Azattyq journalist Asylkhan Mamashuly, 49, arrived on the Alatau Theater about 8 p.m., simply after Bek was arrested. He watched as about 300 black-clad riot police tried to hurry the theater steps the place 1000’s of protesters stood, often singing the nationwide anthem and chanting “We assist Zhanaozen!” The protesters pushed the police again a number of occasions.
When the group moved into the road in entrance of the theater, two army autos drove up and deposited troopers in riot gear — helmets, shields, and batons. In response, the principally youthful crowd rushed the troopers, and a fierce battle ensued, Asylkhan mentioned. Some troopers misplaced their shields and fell to the bottom clasping their heads within the palms. The protesters kicked them.
“That is the primary time I had seen such confidence seem amongst protesters,” Asylkhan mentioned. “They simply fought again.”
Protesters instructed Asylkhan that theirs was the third group of protesters who had damaged by particular forces strains and marched to town middle.
It was 3:30 a.m. when Asylkhan arrived at Almaty’s Republic Sq.. Troopers had pushed protesters off the sq. and onto close by streets. The air was thick with tear gasoline. Damaged paving stones and shell casings have been scattered on the sq., together with traces of blood.
West of the sq., armed males threw grenades with tear gasoline on the crowd of protesters. One of many grenades exploded close to Asylkhan.
“I assumed I used to be going to die,” mentioned Asylkhan. “I didn’t know what it was. I felt a burning sensation in my throat, tears spilled from my eyes.” He gasped for contemporary air and ran to a close-by road to get away from the gasoline. “It took half-hour earlier than I may breathe usually.”
Asylkhan didn’t perceive how the protesters on the entrance strains may endure respiration the gasoline. None of them had gasoline masks. By 4 a.m. protesters have been reporting to Orda.kz that police have been firing at them with rubber bullets. The face-off with troopers continued till morning.
Residents in Almaty woke as much as the information that in a single day President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had known as for a state of emergency within the metropolis, Kazakhstan’s largest.
Protesters collect close to the Alatau Theater in Almaty. Photograph credit score: Chingiz Ualikhan.
A Sport of Thrones
Round 10 a.m. on January 5, Bek joined two of his Orda.kz colleagues, Leonid Raskazov, 37, a cameraman, and reporter Madina Aesheva, 25, who have been filming protesters and police going through off on the intersection of Baytursyov and Karasay Batyr Streets in what Leonid known as “a Sport of Thrones” battle.
“They have been two partitions, one was protesters and the opposite police,” he mentioned. To get a greater angle, Leonid and Bek moved nearer to the center of the standoff.
The police have been wearing riot gear with shields and batons, Bek mentioned. Protesters threw up their palms and known as out: “Don’t shoot.”
Police fired shock grenades, tear gasoline, and rubber bullets. Protesters have been the targets, however no less than a dozen journalists have been masking the battle and within the line of fireside, Leonid mentioned.
Leonid and Bek backed away as tear gasoline burned their eyes and irritated their throats. That’s when a rubber bullet struck Leonid within the again, staining his jacket.
“It felt like somebody had kicked me,” he mentioned.
Bek Baitas, an editor for Orda.kz, was masking the protests in Almaty when a rubber bullet struck him within the face proper beneath his eye. Photograph credit score: Bek Baitas.
A rubber bullet hit Bek beneath his eye.
“It felt like my eye was on hearth.” Bek’s cheek shortly turned purple, and for the remainder of the day he couldn’t see. They ran to a close-by pharmacy and bought some medication that helped with the ache, however regardless of their accidents, the 2 journalists determined to remain on the road and proceed filming.
“I didn’t suppose it was harmful,” Leonid mentioned. “Nobody was threatening us at that time. It was a battle between police and the protesters.”
Finally some protesters would activate Leonid.
Taking pictures with Actual Bullets
That very same morning, Asylkhan and Azattyq cameraman Sanat Nurbek, 45, returned to the Alatau Theater the place a small crowd of protesters had gathered. No police have been in sight. A number of protesters gave Asylkhan interviews, however many averted Sanat’s cameras.
The gang listed calls for and was more and more offended officers hadn’t addressed them, Sanat mentioned. The protesters determined to take their points on to the police and metropolis corridor.
As Asylkhan and Sanat adopted the protesters, they noticed that the Nur Otan occasion’s constructing was on hearth. Nur Otan (renamed Amanat months later in a rebranding train) is Kazakhstan’s ruling occasion, based and led till late 2021 by Nursultan Nazarbayev.
When the group of protesters reached the police station on Tole Bi Road, they demanded that police launch those that had been detained the earlier night time. Police refused to satisfy with the protesters. Officers stationed on the roof of the constructing carried weapons and threw shock grenades at protesters to attempt to preserve them away, Sanat and Asylkhan mentioned.
Azattyq journalist Asylkhan Mamashuly, 49, sporting his press jacket whereas masking the protests in Almaty in January 2022. Photograph credit score: Asylkhan Mamashuly.
The protesters stood exterior the police division for hours, calling for somebody of authority to speak with them.
About that point, Asylkhan went again to the workplace and reporter Ayan Kalmurat joined Sanat. Nearly instantly, protesters acted aggressively towards Ayan, a brand new face within the crowd, Sanat mentioned.
“I used to be scared,” mentioned Ayan, 26. “They tried to beat us a number of occasions with sticks and shovels. I noticed that my press jacket and digital camera with a microphone made them offended. They needed to cover their faces. These folks weren’t peaceable. Peaceable protesters, quite the opposite, saved us.”
Finally, the protesters continued to Republic Sq.. Ayan and Sanat adopted.
Sanat seen that many protesters have been younger folks sporting skinny clothes, not acceptable for winter. Alongside the best way, they noticed a number of civilian automobiles and army autos that had been burned through the clashes. After they reached the sq., folks have been urging the group to not injury something.
In the meantime, protesters, carrying police shields, sticks, and shovels, have been rising increasingly more agitated as a result of no officers had addressed them.
“They have been shouting their calls for towards the mayor’s workplace,” Sanat mentioned. “When there was no response from the federal government, they set the mayor’s constructing on hearth.”
About half an hour later, Sanat noticed that the President’s Residence additionally was on hearth.
Individuals have been operating and screaming that there was taking pictures on the residence, Sanat mentioned. He and Ayan noticed individuals who’d been shot within the legs and torso. They have been mendacity on the bottom, blood pooled round them, he mentioned. The bullets seemed like pellets from a shotgun.
Fog and low visibility added to the mass confusion. “The younger folks have been very aggressive and prepared to enter the residence and battle with the shooters,” Sanat mentioned.
He and Ayan have been interviewing injured folks close to the President’s Residence when two army autos got here barreling down the driveway, the occupants taking pictures wildly on the crowd.
“Ayan instructed me to run. However I turned and filmed these two autos,” Sanat mentioned.
The 2 journalists have been separated within the chaos. Protesters have been making an attempt to enter the burning residence.
About 5 minutes later, Sanat bought a cellphone name. It was Ayan. He’d run again to the workplace. He was afraid Sanat had been shot.
A van burns on the street in Almaty in early January 2022. Photograph credit score: Chingiz Ualikhan.
Ethnic Battle
Leonid and Madina have been filming close to Republic Sq. that afternoon, too. They noticed a number of protesters carrying rifles. On the nook of Zheltoksan and Timiryazev Streets they noticed troopers operating away from metropolis corridor, chased by protesters who have been carrying weapons and shovels. One soldier stopped a automotive, bought in, and escaped. Different troopers ran towards three police automobiles, however the police automobiles took off with out them. The protesters caught up with the troopers and beat them, Leonid mentioned.
Then one other giant crowd began approaching them.
“When the police left, it grew to become scarier,” Leonid mentioned. “You realized you weren’t secure as a result of even the federal government was being overwhelmed.”
Leonid and Madina determined to maneuver nearer to metropolis corridor. However once they reached the doorway, they noticed protesters had set the constructing on hearth.
That was when the protesters turned on Leonid, who was sporting a press vest. They requested him the place he was from. Leonid was born within the north of Kazakhstan and identifies as ethnic Russian. Madina, who’s ethnic Kazakh, defined to them in Kazakh that they each labored for Orda.kz.
A battle broke out between protesters over whether or not Leonid must be allowed to movie what was occurring. The protesters who acted most aggressively have been afraid of the results, they usually began pulling at Leonid’s press jacket and grabbing at his digital camera.
By then it was early night. Leonid and Madina determined to return to the workplace. After they reached Dostyk Road, protesters tried to tear off Leonid’s press vest once more. They took his digital camera. They spit on him. They cursed at him for being Russian and have been offended that extra Russians weren’t protesting.
“It was the primary time in my life when folks began to scream issues about my nationality,” he mentioned. “They have been swearing, utilizing unhealthy phrases.” Leonid pulled his hood over his head and wore a medical masks on his face as he tried to disregard the protesters.
“I used to be offended. Kazakhstan is my homeland,” he mentioned.
Madina appealed to a different group of protesters to assist. They managed to get Leonid’s digital camera again. Then a number of protesters encircled Madina and Leonid, shielding Leonid as he took off his press vest and hid his digital camera.
“Now I really feel I’m not in my nation,” Leonid mentioned.
Cameraman Leonid Raskazov was born within the north of Kazakhstan. Photograph credit score: Cheryl L. Reed.
Too Harmful
After Sanat and Ayan have been shot at, Kassym Amanzhol, Almaty bureau chief for RFE/RL’s Radio Azattyq, recalled all reporters from areas the place there was taking pictures as a result of the scenario was too harmful. Protesters set hearth to 2 buildings the place state-funded media stations Kazakhstan, Khabar, First Channel Evrazia, KTK, and Mir 24 have been situated.
“Protesters intentionally went to those TV stations and set them on hearth,” Kassym mentioned. “They did it as a result of they have been offended that they’ve been fed the improper info all these years. I’m proud to say that when folks within the protest noticed that our reporters have been from Azattyq, they circled round them in order that no hurt would occur to them.”
Kassym had additionally been detained for 2 hours by police the earlier night masking a protest on the east aspect of city.
Kassym Amanzhol is the Almaty bureau chief for RFE/RL’s Radio Azattyq. Photograph credit score: Cheryl L. Reed.
His colleague, Darkhan Omirbek, editor of Radio Azattyq’s workplace within the Kazakh capital, was additionally arrested on January 4 whereas masking a protest regardless of holding up his press identification. He was amongst about 100 protesters detained.
“They requested me to signal a paper saying that I regretted going to the protest, and I wouldn’t do it,” he mentioned. He was held for 4 hours and launched with out prices.
In Nur-Sultan (months later renamed once more as Astana), the place protests have been sporadic and non-violent, Darkhan mentioned many protesters he encountered have been drunk. “Going in opposition to authority is an enormous deal in our tradition, and a few of them wanted alcohol to offer them braveness.”
After his launch, Darkhan started constructing a Google spreadsheet with the names of those that have been killed through the protest. “I began it to get some type of order to the moment studies of demise,” he mentioned. After it was first revealed in late January, it shortly grew to become the nation’s most dependable checklist of the useless. The federal government was gradual to offer names of the deceased and warned households that in the event that they offered details about their family members’ deaths, mistreatment, or torture, that these victims can be labeled terrorists, Darkhan mentioned.
Gulnara Bazhkenova, chief editor and part-owner of Orda.kz, mentioned that after Bek and Leonid have been shot with rubber bullets on January 5, she ordered reporters to remain on the workplace. “If I despatched any person and one thing occurred to them it will have been my duty,” she mentioned.
“A number of didn’t hear,” Gulnara added. “Due to God, we’re all alive.”
Gulnara selected to place herself at risk. She placed on her press vest, rented a automotive, and together with her assistant editors filmed what they witnessed on the streets.
Gulnara Bazhkenova is chief editor and part-owner of Orda.kz. Photograph credit score: Cheryl L. Reed.
Regardless of the web being shut down, editors within the Orda.kz workplace found that two laptops in some way maintained a connection, and thru them, they have been capable of put up a relentless stream of reports updates to their Telegram channel.
Two journalists, whom Gulnara described as “afraid and uncomfortable,” give up Orda.kz through the protest. “I say in case you are afraid, you shouldn’t be a journalist.”
Muratkhan Bazarbayev, who labored for Almaty TV as a driver, died when gunmen opened hearth on two autos carrying town mayor and an Almaty TV digital camera crew to metropolis corridor. Bazarbayev suffered gunshot wounds to the abdomen and legs and died on the scene. A cameraman for Almaty TV was additionally shot within the hand and later had two fingers amputated.
Drunk and Aggressive
By the night of January 5, clashes between police and protesters have been rising more and more violent. Loudspeakers within the metropolis middle urged residents to remain off the streets. Teams of protesters had shut down the Almaty airport, seized 5 planes, and killed two troopers. Some had additionally captured authorities firearms and stormed gun retailers.
This didn’t deter Bek from driving across the metropolis. He noticed a useless physique on the road close to the nook of Manshuk Mametova Road and Seyfullin Avenue. However when he bought out of his automotive and approached, a crowd of individuals aggressively warned him to go away.
Again in his automotive, as he was turning from Seyfullin to Tole Bi Road, a driver pulled up beside him, rolled down his window, and held out a rifle. He warned Bek, “I’m going to shoot.” Then the person fired within the air.
Later that night time, Bek heard photographs fired towards his automotive close to the police station on Tole Bi. He would later study {that a} 12-year-old boy was killed within the space at the moment.
Bek noticed looters transferring out and in of cafes, banks, workplaces, and procuring facilities, stealing no matter they might discover, together with ATM machines.
By 9 p.m. Bek mentioned he not noticed any police within the metropolis. Individuals have been leaping on prime of police automobiles. They have been operating by the streets with stolen police shields. He noticed automobiles on hearth, together with a firefighter automobile, three police automobiles, and several other civilian automobiles.
Many individuals have been driving automobiles with out license plates, apparently to keep away from being caught on surveillance footage.
That night time Bek determined he was safer not sporting his press armband.
A constructing smolders in Almaty in early January 2022. Photograph credit score: Leonid Rasskazov.
“We Are Not Terrorists!”
On the morning of January 6, 3,000 Russian paratroopers arrived in Kazakhstan, responding to Tokayev’s formal request for help from the Collective Safety Treaty Group (CSTO).
That morning, Bek went again to Republic Sq.. Metropolis corridor and the President’s Residence have been nonetheless smoldering. He noticed spent shell casings on the bottom. He hadn’t slept a lot; his face was swollen, his cheek nonetheless purple from the place the rubber bullet had struck him the day earlier than. He met a gaggle of drunken marauders who mistakenly thought he was a part of their group, dressed plainly as he was in sweatpants and a hat.
The marauders instructed him their plans to construct a barricade on Republic Sq.. They identified the blood stains on the sq. and claimed they needed to seek for our bodies so they might return them to their family.
Bek mentioned he didn’t inform them he was a journalist, and he didn’t movie whereas he was with the group. They provided him a police baton for his personal safety, however he mentioned he declined it. The vast majority of the group was drunk and aggressive.
“I used to be somewhat bit scared. However my curiosity and pleasure towards my work didn’t let me go dwelling,” he mentioned.
That afternoon, about 300 folks gathered on the sq.. A number of held up a protracted banner on a white fabric, which mentioned in giant letters: “We’re unusual folks! We aren’t terrorists!”
Within the night, folks in army uniform opened hearth on protesters gathered within the sq., killing dozens.
A retailer in Almaty smashed and looted amid the protests in January 2022. Photograph credit score: Leonid Rasskazov.
Gasoline Looters
On January 7, Asylkhan rode across the metropolis with two reporters from Moscow. They drove by Republic Sq. and the President’s Residence, however they didn’t get out as a result of the army was taking pictures from the buildings.
“We couldn’t ask why and who they have been taking pictures at,” Asylkhan mentioned.
Close to the sq. they noticed a automotive with 5 – 6 bullet holes within the windshield and blood stains on the passenger seat.
On the radio, the federal government warned that an anti-terrorist operation was underway. Tokayev had granted legislation enforcement authority to shoot protesters with out warning.
West of downtown, Asylkhan noticed folks at gasoline stations amassing gas in buckets. Close by a number of males doused passing automobiles with gasoline and set them on hearth.
Asylkhan mentioned he and the Moscow reporters gathered a bunch of males collectively and drove the fireplace starters away.
Burned automobiles in Almaty. Photograph credit score: Leonid Rasskazov.
Loss of life in January
That very same day, Bek obtained a name from his dad and mom. His grandmother had died.
“I didn’t really feel any ache,” he mentioned. “I couldn’t even cry.”
By then he’d seen a number of victims of Bloody January mendacity useless on the streets of Almaty. He’d seen so many ugly issues he was numb.
His grandmother was buried the subsequent day, however Bek couldn’t make it dwelling for the funeral. Seven days later, he set out for his household’s village to pay his respects. As he made the three-hour drive, he realized he had come near demise 4 occasions whereas masking the protests and, ultimately, he cried.
“I noticed I did all the pieces improper and there was no necessity for me to have risked my life,” he mentioned. “Getting good materials is just not value my life.” He stopped and thought for a second. “The very best success is to remain alive and proceed working.”
Greater than 50 violations in opposition to journalists’ and bloggers’ security have been recorded in reference to the protection of the January protests, in accordance with Adil Soz, an Almaty-based media advocacy group. Not less than 22 journalists have been detained and questioned through the seven days of protests in Kazakhstan or instantly after, together with 5 who have been imprisoned and 5 who say they have been overwhelmed.
In keeping with official figures, which have been lastly launched in August 2022, 238 folks died in that first week of January. Practically 10,000 folks have been detained and questioned throughout and within the weeks following the protests. Kazakhstan courts convicted 1,113 folks, practically half on prices of “collaborating in mass riots.”
[ad_2]
Source link
