Translated by Lena Cochran, Nov. 26, 1997

The extent of the citizens' lack of confidence in the authorities to defend their civil rights has reached a dangerous level.

The round table discussion with workers in the State Investigation Committee, the General Procurator's Office, the Ministry of Interior Affairs and the President's Committee of Human Rights was held in June 1996. During this round table, the Kazakstan-International Bureau on Human Rights reported numerous instances of violations of human rights. The leaders of the organs of executive power acknowledged all these facts, but the situation has not been changed, and it is getting worse now. It is obvious that the leading organs of the executive branch of government are unable to improve this situation. And they do not do anything to stop these disgraceful, scandalous and even criminal practices that have been perpetrated with perfect impunity by government authorities.

As a lawyer with the Kazakstan-International Bureau of Human Rights, I have access to evidence of the use of torture during the processes of investigation and inquiry, which is confirmed by documents.

Following is only small part of this information:

1. Natalie Zabolotnaya lives in Pavlodar. She was arrested by the State Investigation Committee on suspicion of murder and was tortured: they handcuffed her to the radiator and put a plastic bag over her head in order to deprive her of air. They demanded a $10,000 bribe to stop the torture. Her physical injuries were documented by the state. The names and posts of the torturers are well known, yet they continue to work quite unconcerned.

2. Valeri Tonkonogov also lives in Pavlodar. During his interrogation, his jugular vertebrae were broken and his spinal cord damaged. Because of these serious injuries, he had to spend a long time in a hospital. Again, the names of his torturers are known. However, they received only disciplinary action and continue to work.

3. Viktor Rukavihsnikov lives in Almaty. He was arrested on suspicion of murder. His demands for legal counsel were ignored. During many days of interrogation, he was beaten times and his hands were chained to hot radiators.

4. Gennadi Dergachyov lives in Almaty. He was arrested on suspicion of theft. His interrogation resulted in serious physical injuries, including a broken spine.

5. A. Berdyshev lives in Almaty. He was arrested on suspicion of theft. During his interrogation, several of his ribs were broken and his kidneys were injured. His interrogators even threatened to throw him from a fifth floor window.

6. S. Sagibov lives in Almaty. He received serious physical injuries during an interrogation.

7. The Karibov Brothers live in the Dzhambul region. During their interrogation, their torturers put gas masks on their heads in order to deprive them of air. One of the brothers died during the interrogation.

8. Sabit Kashkimbayev lives in Almaty. He sustained injuries to his kidneys and ears.

9. Pavel Privalov lives in Kokshetau. The workers of the Kokshetau City Department of Interior Affairs, in addition to the usual methods of forcing testimony (including the gas mask), they took him outside into the freezing cold and threw cold water on his body.

This list seems endless. Yet instead of bringing legal action against the torturers, the authorities tend to protect a notorious "honor code" with regards to their fellow security officials. The only responses the Bureau has received from the government with regard to these episodes state that "the facts cannot be confirmed."

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