Kyrgyz musician Vikram Ruzakhunov identified more than 10 Kazakh police officers who, as he said, tortured him. He announced it on Instagram.
«During the two days of my stay in Almaty region, September 26-27, a lot of work has been done through the joint efforts of the Anti-Corruption Service and human rights activists with my personal participation. Every day, from early morning until night, active investigative actions are carried out together with the investigator. I was interrogated in detail on the circumstances of the case. Military and police officers of the Almaty region visited the scene of crimes with a reproduction of the chronology of the events that took place from January 7 to January 10 of this year. I described the details of the crimes committed,» Vikram Ruzakhunov wrote.
Out of 348 people, he identified more than 10 police officers on photographs.
«When we arrived here, we did not fully realize the full danger of this trip, since the employees I identified are influential officials to this day. We have to meet with those identified for face-to-face confrontations,» the musician told.
Vikram Ruzakhunov arrived in Kazakhstan to participate in investigative activities within the case on torture during the January events. He is an affected party in the case.
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.
