"This year, Spravedlivost submitted 18 complaints regarding torture"

Spravedlivost is respected among the authorities for promoting human rights and providing legal aid to some of the most vulnerable groups in Jalal-Abad. It has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a network of human rights organizations and the authorities to monitor temporary detention facilities in the Jalal-Abad Region.

Karimberdi Oljabaev, Deputy Head of the Jalal-Abad Regional Prosecutor’s Office Supervisory Department for the Observance of Law by Bodies Conducting Operational Investigations; Jeroviev Nurbek, Vice-Governor of Jalal-Abad Region; Ibragim Shatmanaliev, Head of the Public Safety Department of the Regional Department of Internal Affairs and Akram Tashtemirov, Judge at Jalal-Abad Regional Court, tell about Spravedlivost’s work, their assessment of the inter-ethnic situation in Jalal-Abad and the challenges that remain.

Akram Tashtemirov: “Spravedlivost’s lawyers do excellent work to promote human rights and provide legal aid to vulnerable people. They submit very good complaints and their cases are well prepared. They also monitor court hearings for procedural abuses.

“Their legal basis is strong. They produce booklets and provide education on the law and human rights. I have participated in seminars for lawyers and advocates on how to be more effective when presenting torture cases.

“Spravedlivost helps strengthen inter-ethnic relations by providing legal aid to everyone, not to one minority. All communities trust them because they have a multi-cultural staff and treat everyone equally.”

“We work together on monitoring temporary detention facilities. This year, Spravedlivost submitted 18 complaints regarding torture.

“Spravedlivost does excellent work in raising legal awareness and strengthening civil society through training, seminars and conferences. They bring the legal and advocacy fields together to combat discrimination. They issue pamphlets to raise the public’s awareness of its rights and have established a confidential phone line offering advice on legal and human rights issues.

“The events of 2010 are not a national-minority problem; they are a tragedy for our entire nation. To increase trust in the authorities, we need to ensure that decisions are just and criminals need to be charged for their crimes. After 2010, minorities were afraid to complain, but things are returning to normal.

“The State is creating bodies and agencies to improve inter-ethnic relations and bring people together. Our challenges are access to education, employment and the media. If we could bring about more equality in these fields, society would improve.”

“It organizes seminars on proper policing and provides the general public with information about rights. When people know their rights, it’s hard to abuse them. They make suggestions and we help them.

“There are no problems with inter-ethnic relations in Jalal-Abad. Sometimes we have issues during elections or when people choose to solve their problems by casting things in this light. Unfortunately, some people use ethnicity to push through an agenda.

Since Spravedlivost started in 1994, we have had an excellent working relationship. It is also providing an important service for people in need. Its multi-ethnic staff is trusted by many people.

Karimberdi Oljabaev, Deputy Head of the Jalal-Abad Regional Prosecutor’s Office  

“No one can say people don’t trust the authorities. People follow parties. We try to improve trust by carrying out the functions of our job. When people come here with their complaints, we register them and provide an answer. We can’t always solve everything.” 

“For three years, we have been working with NGOs like Spravedlivost and the Ombudsman under a Memorandum of Understanding to monitor temporary detention facilities. Defendants have the right to complain about their treatment. We’re trying to improve the detention facilities but we don’t have enough resources to solve everything. Spravedlivost also provides doctors and medical facilities for detainees.

“Spravedlivost and the Red Cross are helping to build permanent detention facilities. Currently, detainees have to stay in temporary detention facilities, which is not fair to them. We believe permanent detention facilities will improve the situation.

“When Spravedlivost reports cases of torture to us, we react immediately. Usually, the Prosecutor’s Office does this. If we suspect torture was used, we conduct an investigation and initiate disciplinary proceedings against the perpetrator.

“Building trust in the authorities is one of our priorities. The last two uprisings had a terrible effect. In the last two years, we’ve been working to improve the image of the police and law-enforcement bodies. We want to establish a good relationship with all communities. We go into local communities and explain how policing should be.”