Police in Kazakhstan arrested in connection with torture of jazz musician

Four police officers have been arrested in Kazakhstan in connection with the torture of jazz pianist from Kyrgyzstan Vikram Ruzakhunov. About it reports Radio Azattyk with reference to the musician himself.

According to the victim, one of the detainees confessed. The criminal case has been transferred to the Prosecutor General’s Office of Kazakhstan. According to the case materials, dozens of citizens reportedly suffered from the actions of the police, in addition to Ruzakhunov.

In January 2022, during mass protests in Kazakhstan, a number of state media distributed a video with a detained foreigner who said that he allegedly flew from Kyrgyzstan for $200 to participate in a rally in Almaty. After the publication of the recording, residents of Kyrgyzstan recognized the detainee as the well-known jazz pianist in their country, Vikram Ruzakhunov.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan reported that Ruzakhunov bought a ticket to Almaty back in December, long before the start of the protests. On January 2, he actually flew to Kazakhstan to conduct concert programs, after which his relatives lost contact with him. Kyrgyzstan sent a note of protest to Kazakhstan.

It later turned out that Ruzakhunov was severely beaten after his arrest, which he calls illegal, and that he recorded a video of his confession under torture.

After the musician was released and taken to Bishkek, doctors recorded a concussion and rib fractures. Ruzakhunov had to undergo surgery in the hospital.

• Unrest in Kazakhstan in January 2022 escalated into mass protests. Groups of people with weapons in their hands began to attack government buildings. The Kazakh authorities called it a coup attempt, in which certain foreign forces participated. Subsequently, individuals from the circle of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev were accused of involvement in the events. As a result of the riots, more than 200 people died under various circumstances.