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Society

Kazakhstan Considers Restricting Photography and Filming Without Consent

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture and Information is considering new regulations on photography and video recording of individuals without their prior consent. The initiative was announced by Minister Aida Balaeva, who addressed potential amendments to the Law “On Mass Media.” According to Balaeva, the proposal does not entail a ban but rather seeks to clarify the rules for filming in public spaces. Responding to media inquiries, she noted that the ministry regularly receives complaints from citizens concerned about being recorded without permission, particularly in content used for pranks or misleading narratives. While current legislation allows individuals to contest the unauthorized use of their image, the ministry is exploring whether additional legal provisions are warranted. Balaeva invited journalists to join a working group to evaluate the matter further. The minister dismissed claims that the proposed changes are intended to shield public officials. The speculation follows the recent circulation of a video on social media showing deputies appearing inattentive during President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s address. “We are already used to being filmed everywhere. But we are citizens of this country too, and we also have the right to privacy,” Balaeva stated. She emphasized that the objective is not to hinder journalistic work but to address rising concerns over misuse. Earlier drafts of the proposed regulation suggested requiring journalists and bloggers to obtain explicit consent before publishing an individual’s image, including online. In cases of republication, editing, or adding commentary, renewed consent would be necessary. However, exceptions are proposed for filming public events, documenting official functions, and materials deemed in the public interest. Gulmira Birzhanova, a lawyer at the Legal Media Center, warned that the measure could lead to excessive bureaucracy and potential abuse. She argued that the initiative contradicts existing legislation and Kazakhstan’s Constitution. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, earlier this year the ministry also proposed strengthening penalties for inciting interethnic and interreligious discord.

LGBTQ+

Kazakhstan Parliament Advances Bill to Ban ‘LGBT Propaganda’

Activists and human rights defenders in Almaty have condemned proposed legislative amendments aimed at banning so-called “LGBT propaganda” in Kazakhstan. Critics argue the initiative fosters an atmosphere of fear and hatred, undermines fundamental human rights, and risks isolating the country internationally. According to them, the issue is not about “propaganda” but about the right to visibility, safety, and dignity. Penalties for Media, Posts, and Books The public statements from rights groups follow a renewed effort to introduce such a ban. On October 29, a working group within the Mazhilis (the lower house of parliament) met to review amendments proposed by 15 deputies. The group approved the amendments, which stipulate that dissemination of content deemed as “LGBT propaganda,” if not qualifying as a criminal offense, would be punishable under the Code of Administrative Offenses. Violations, including the distribution of content on social networks, could incur heavy fines or up to ten days of administrative arrest. Mazhilis deputy Yelnur Beisenbayev explained that “propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation” includes disseminating information that promotes such orientations publicly or via mass media, telecommunications, or online platforms, especially if intended to shape public opinion positively. Fellow deputy Irina Smirnova cited library books and cartoons featuring same-sex relationships as examples, stating that she "saw books in the library that promote LGBT, where a prince falls in love with a prince, two boys. There are cartoons that allow this to be shown, there are magazines and comics where all this is promoted." Deputy Natalya Dementyeva, meanwhile, emphasized that the ban would extend to social media, films, and advertising. The LGBT clauses form part of a broader bill on “protecting children from harmful information,” which amends several existing laws, including those on children’s rights, advertising, education, cinema, and media. Rights advocates say this packaging blurs the true scope of the restrictions. On November 12, the Mazhilis passed the bill in its second reading and forwarded it to the Senate for consideration. The legislation prohibits the dissemination of information promoting pedophilia and non-traditional sexual orientation in public spaces. It will only take effect if approved by the Senate and signed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Activists Warn Against Repressive Precedents Human rights advocates stress that Kazakhstan must avoid replicating repressive measures seen in Russia, where similar laws have led to broad crackdowns following the invasion of Ukraine. “We live in an independent and sovereign republic. Or are we already a colony of the Russian Federation?” asked Zhanar Sekerbayeva, co-founder of the feminist initiative, Feminita. She noted that the LGBT community and activists in Kazakhstan have faced harassment for years. “Because of these amendments, people can be punished for anything - jokes, drawings, hugs,” said Arj Tursynkan, an activist with the NGO Education Community. He argued that the legislation is not just a legal text, but a test of Kazakhstan’s commitment to international norms of dignity and freedom. Independent human rights expert Tatyana Chernobyl added, “There is absolutely no reason to protect children from so-called LGBT propaganda at this time. The LGBTQI+...

Society

Canadian Musician Releases Protest Song About Uzbek Student’s Experience with Wizz Air

Canadian singer-songwriter Dave Carroll, best known for his 2009 viral hit “United Breaks Guitars,” has released a new protest song titled “Don’t Fly Wizness Class,” inspired by the travel ordeal of Uzbek student Suhrob Ubaydullayev. The track and accompanying video, featuring Ubaydullayev himself, highlight his experience with Wizz Air in 2023 and raise broader concerns about discrimination and passenger rights. Carroll first gained international attention after United Airlines damaged his $3,500 Taylor guitar during a 2008 flight and refused to compensate him. In response, he released “United Breaks Guitars,” which amassed over 20 million views on YouTube and reportedly caused a $180 million drop in United’s stock value. The episode sparked industry-wide changes in customer service protocols. More than a decade later, Carroll has turned his attention to another case of alleged mistreatment, this time involving a 24-year-old Uzbek national. His latest song recounts how Ubaydullayev was denied boarding on a Wizz Air flight on August 31, 2023. “I had all my documents in order,” Ubaydullayev previously told The Times of Central Asia. “The staff checked them and returned them to me, but when I reached the gate, they suddenly said I couldn’t fly. No reason. No explanation.” According to Ubaydullayev, one airline employee asked, “Are you from Uzbekistan?” Upon confirming he was, he says he was denied boarding without further justification. What followed, he claims, was a humiliating ordeal: threats to call the police, warnings that the Uzbek embassy could not assist him, and refusal to provide any written explanation. Ubaydullayev had just completed a Work and Travel program in Europe and was returning home. After spending his savings on the now-cancelled flight, he borrowed money to reach Istanbul, where he was robbed and left stranded. “I met some Uzbek guys near the Sultan Ahmed Mosque who offered to help,” he said. “But they ended up taking my money and disappearing.” His journey home eventually took him through Kazan in Russia and Osh in Kyrgyzstan, before he reached the Uzbek city of Namangan, exhausted, indebted, and disillusioned. In May, during a visit to Canada, Ubaydullayev met Carroll in person. “He was kind and respectful,” Ubaydullayev told The Times of Central Asia. “Carroll listened to my story and was deeply moved.” Carroll then turned the young man’s experience into a song, aiming to bring attention to the broader issue of traveler discrimination. “My goal,” Ubaydullayev said, “is to ensure Wizz Air and other airlines stop discriminating against Uzbek citizens and start treating them with respect.”

Human rights

Turkmen Activist Saddam Gulamov Faces Harsh Sentence for Government Criticism

Russia has extradited Saddam Gulamov, a Turkmen citizen and outspoken critic of the regime, to Turkmenistan, where he was sentenced to a lengthy prison term in 2024, according to a report by Turkmen.news. Born in 1991 in Ashgabat, Gulamov had publicly condemned the government's handling of the food crisis, its denial of the COVID-19 pandemic, and its silence following a devastating hurricane. He is reportedly being held in solitary confinement in prison alongside another activist. Gulamov had been residing in Russia, working in minor roles in theater and film. He was deported to Turkmenistan between late 2023 and early 2024 and convicted by the spring of 2024. The precise charges and length of his sentence have not been disclosed. Before his arrest, Gulamov had used social media to denounce the country's former president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, calling him a “dictator and thief,” and urging citizens to reject the culture of blind obedience toward Turkmenistan’s leadership. All of his online content has since been removed. His case is part of a broader crackdown on dissent that intensified in 2020, when the government's inaction during crises led to rising political awareness among citizens. This growing unrest sparked the formation of opposition movements abroad, with activists using social media to call for unity and reform. Turkmen intelligence services closely monitored these activities, and once pandemic-era border restrictions were lifted, many dissidents were forcibly repatriated. Several activists, including Farhat Meymankuliev, Rovshen Klychev, and Merdan Mukhammedov, were deported from Turkey, while others sought asylum in European Union countries. Russia, though less involved than Turkey, has also played a significant role in these forced returns. Notable cases include Azat Isakov, who disappeared in Moscow in 2021 after saying he was hiding from security agents, and Myalikberdy Allamuradov, who was deported in December 2023 and later imprisoned. The list of targeted activists now includes Gulamov. According to Turkmen.news, both he and Allamuradov are being held in solitary confinement in the LB-E/12 penal colony. His extradition follows a similar incident in May, when activist Umida Bekchanova was detained in Istanbul and faced possible deportation to Turkmenistan. Human rights groups warn these actions are part of an expanding campaign of transnational repression aimed at silencing critics abroad through intimidation and forced returns.

Asylum

Tajikistan’s Ombudsman Criticizes Violations of Refugee Rights

Tajikistan’s Human Rights Commissioner has released a 2024 report highlighting ongoing violations of the rights of refugees and asylum seekers, including challenges in securing legal status and accessing essential services. According to the report, refugees and migrants face systemic barriers to obtaining official status and temporary registration, as well as difficulties integrating into society, finding employment, and accessing education. As of the end of 2024, 10,753 refugees and asylum seekers were registered in Tajikistan, comprising 2,670 families. Among them, 9,424 individuals (2,140 families) held refugee status, while 1,329 (530 families) were awaiting decisions on their asylum applications. The majority, 6,774 people, or 63%, were Afghan nationals. In 2024, 2,280 individuals were issued refugee certificates, and another 2,591 received temporary registration. Four applicants were denied refugee status on grounds of submitting "unfounded or false information." The report did not disclose the nationalities of those denied. The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported similar figures for 2024, citing 10,381 registered refugees and asylum seekers in Tajikistan. This marks a decline from 2022, when the UN estimated the number of Afghan asylum seekers in the country at around 14,000. The Ombudsman’s report also noted that several Afghan asylum seekers were expelled from Tajikistan in 2024 for violating residency rules. Cited reasons included wearing a beard “against the rules,” inappropriate clothing, alcohol consumption, and political discussions on social media. Interior Minister Ramazon Rakhimzoda defended the deportations, stating in the summer of 2024 that all actions were taken in accordance with national law. “Although they had legal residence, if they violate the law, they are expelled,” he said, adding that all decisions were made within the existing legal framework. Tajikistan accepted its first wave of Afghan refugees in 2021, following the Taliban’s return to power. At the time, authorities acknowledged that the lack of dedicated shelters posed a major challenge. In August 2025, the head of the Emergency Situations Committee said there was no significant threat of a new mass influx of refugees and that previously accommodated families had been resettled across the country. Most Afghan refugees are currently living in the city of Vahdat and the Jabbor Rasulov district.

Human Trafficking

Ukrainian Prosecutors Say 13 Uzbek Workers Held in “Inhumane Conditions”

Prosecutors in Ukraine say they have detained four members of a human trafficking operation that exploited 13 Uzbek laborers and subjected them to humiliating treatment that included scheduled visits to the toilet. Two Chinese citizens, an Uzbek national and a Ukrainian woman used coercion and deception to recruit vulnerable people with few resources outside Ukraine and move them to the Kyiv region for use in forced work for profit, the Kyiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office said on Thursday. Images provided by the office show the farm workers standing in front of greenhouse-like structures covered in plastic tarpaulins in a rural area. Other photos show the cramped, unsanitary conditions in which the men and women lived. “To maintain control, the perpetrators used coercion and restrictions on freedom of movement, which indicates the exploitative nature of their actions,” the Ukrainian prosecutors said. “The victims were humiliated to the extreme: even visits to the toilet were allowed only according to a set schedule, and any minor violation was punished with fines.” Ukrainian authorities said they searched the suspects’ residences and business sites on Wednesday, finding 13 Uzbek citizens who were being held in “inhumane conditions.” Officials from the Uzbek embassy in Ukraine visited the greenhouse facility in the Kyiv region following the publication of reports in Ukrainian media about Uzbek citizens being treated as “slaves,” the embassy said on Friday. “At present, it has been established that all our citizens are safe and in good health, and they have been placed in one of the local hospitals in the Kyiv region to receive the necessary medical treatment,” the embassy said. It said steps are being taken to return the group to Ukraine, while noting that court proceedings are underway against the suspects. In a reference to the war against Russia, the embassy repeated guidance that Uzbek nationals should avoid travel to Ukraine because of safety concerns. Under Ukrainian law, the four suspects could face long prison terms if convicted of human trafficking and other charges. Glavcom, a Ukrainian news agency, said a 51-year-old Chinese citizen with a temporary residence permit in Ukraine was the head of the alleged human trafficking operation. The Uzbek workers were between the ages of 22 and 42 and had been offered high salaries to persuade them to go to Ukraine, an enticement that turned out to be false, according to Glavcom. Once in Ukraine, the Uzbek nationals had to surrender their passports to their employers, the agency reported.