Bakhytzhan Toregozhina
Bakhytzhan Toregozhina Testimony
Society believes that these repressive measures are connected to the governments desire to destroy active civil society. Therefore the authorities attempt to inhibit any expressions of protest.
I'm worried about the fate of political prisoners in Kazakhstan.
Bakhytzhan Toregozhina is a prominent woman human rights defender in Kazakhstan, leader of the organisation Ar-Rukh-Hak and member of national boards monitoring the status of political prisoners and prisoners of conscience. For over 25 years, she has worked to document and address human rights violations, focusing in particular on cases of torture and inhumane treatment. Since 2012, she has provided legal and humanitarian support to detainees through the Tirek Alliance. In 2023, she received the International Women of Courage Award from the U.S. State Department.
Repression against human rights defenders often takes the form of economic and legislative obstacles, which are effective in hindering their work and more difficult to challenge. In recent years the government further tightened control over independent media, NGOs and civil society, and initiated politically motivated lawsuits against its critics.
