15:34, 26 сентября 2022, Bishkek - 24.kg news agency , Darya PODOLSKAYA
Kyrgyz musician Vikram Ruzakhunov arrived in Kazakhstan to take part in the investigation into the case of torture during the January events. He is an affected party. His lawyer Nurbek Toktakunov told 24.kg news agency.
According to him, Vikram Ruzakhunov arrived in Kazakhstan on September 26. «Vikram arrived in Almaty region today. A meeting with the investigator is expected,» Nurbek Toktakunov said.
He added that another lawyer representing the interests of the jazzman, Baktybek Avtandil, left together with Vikram Ruzahunov.
Vikram Ruzakhunov himself wrote on Facebook that over the past eight months no one has been brought to justice in the framework of a criminal case on the use of torture against him by the Kazakh security forces. Moreover, the musician claims that the head of the police department of the Republic of Kazakhstan should also be punished.
«Today, September 26, accompanied by lawyer Bakytbek Avtandil, at the invitation of the Anti-Corruption Service of the Republic of Kazakhstan, I arrived in Almaty region to participate in investigative activities as a victim. For eight months, the authorities have not conducted an objective and transparent investigation into the mass torture. They do not recognize as suspects even those law enforcement officers who were identified by the victims of torture, the evidence is destroyed and not provided to lawyers and victims,» the musician wrote.
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.
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.
On January 9, social media and Kazakh TV channels showed a video, in which a man says that he came to Kazakhstan to participate in a rally in Almaty. It is said in the video that some people called the Kyrgyzstani on January 1 and offered to participate in the rally for $ 200. The man was identified as the head of a jazz orchestra from Bishkek Vikram Ruzakhunov
Activists and journalists of Kyrgyzstan appealed to the authorities of the two countries with a request to release the detained musician and return him to his homeland. He crossed the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border on January 10 at 6.40 p.m.
«All my evidence in the video is false. Bruises and scratches appeared on January 7, it was a harsh detention with the use of force,» the musician told journalists after arrival in Bishkek.
Criminal cases have been initiated on the fact of detention and ill-treatment of Kyrgyzstanis Cholponbek Sydykov and Vikram Ruzakhunov, investigative measures are being taken.