Aron Atabek
Aron Edigeev (31 January 1953 – 24 November 2021), better known as Aron Atabek, was a Kazakh writer, poet and dissident.[1] He was an author of several poems and a book critical of the Kazakh Government, for which he was imprisoned for fifteen years. He was released in October 2021 and died a month later on 24 November while being treated in a Kazakh hospital for COVID-19.[2]
Early life and education
Atabek was born on 31 January 1953.[3] He studied Mongol and Turkic culture in both Kazakh and Russian universities.[4]
Literary and journalistic career
Between 1989 and 1992 Atabek was the publisher of the newspapers Alash and HAK which are prohibited in Kazakhstan.[5] Besides he has authored several books of poetry and prose inspired by Tengriist spirituality and in 1992 has established the monthly Khak (‘The Truth’).[4] While in prison, he also published the book Heart of Eurasia in 2012, a book critical of Nursultan Nazarbayev.[5]
Political activism
As Kazakhstan was still a part of the Soviet Union, he opposed the Communist party of the Soviet Union (CPSU).[6] He was a leader of Alash, an independence party and the president of the political council of the Kazak Memleketi, the Kazakhstan National Front.[5] After Kazakhstan gained its independence, he kept on to criticize the ruling authorities and Nursultan Nazarbayev's Government.[6]
Imprisonment
In 2007, Atabek was sentenced to a prison term of eighteen years for organizing politically motivated proceedings during a protest against the demolition of a shanty town in 2006.[5] According to the court the protest also caused the death of a police officer.[5]
In 2012, Atabek published the book The Heart of Eurasia which criticizes Nursultan Nazarbayev’s regime.[5] The work was published after it has been smuggled out of the prison facility he was imprisoned in.[5] Subsequently, he was sentenced to two years in solitary confinement and transferred to the prison in Arkalyk[5] described as the harshest jail in Kazakhstan.[7] After fifteen years in prison, he was released in October 2021 due to a deteriorating health.[8]
Detention conditions
In 2009 it was reported that Atabek has been transferred to the prison in Aralyk in the Kostanay Region.[5] Atabek has described the conditions of his isolation as ‘a prison within a prison’ or ‘a complete vacuum’.[4] The prolonged times of isolation constitute an inhuman act which according to the Treaty on International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of the United Nations are prohibited.[4] Kazakhstan is a signatory of the UN treaty and therefore also obliged to comply with it.[4] And by denying him a regular correspondence and visits by his relatives, Kazakhstan has also been violating the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (also known as the Mandela Rules).[4]
Personal life
He was married to Zhainagul Aidarkhan and had two children.[3] He died of COVID-19 while being recovered at hospital, just a month after being released from prison.[2]
Awards
- 2004 Almas Kylysh prize
- 2010 Freedom to Create: Imprisoned Artist prize
References
- ^ Giorgobiani, Natia (2021-10-01). "Kazakhstan court frees dissident Aron Atabek from prison". Perild. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
- ^ a b "Released After 18 Years In Prison, Dissident Kazakh Poet Dies After COVID-19 Hospitalization". rferl.org. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
- ^ a b "'A Real Man Must Stand Up' -- Kazakh Poet, Dissident Returns To Solitary Confinement". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
- ^ a b c d e f Halaimzai, Sahar (2018-03-19). "This World Poetry Day Help Free Imprisoned Kazakh…". PEN International. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e f g h i "Political persecution against the Kazakhstan dissident Aron Atabek". Open Dialogue Foundation. 2014-03-13. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b Schütz, Birger. "Frei, aber krank (neues deutschland)". www.nd-aktuell.de (in German). Retrieved 2021-11-14.
- ^ Sheerin, Cathal (2013-06-24). "A Prison within a Prison: the Solitary Confinement of Kazakh Poet Aron Atabek". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Glas, Othmara (6 November 2021). "Opposition in Kasachstan: Der kasachische Samurai". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 2021-11-14.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
