The Prosecutor General's Office has commented on information circulated in the media about the alleged use of torture by investigative bodies in criminal cases being investigated under Article 274 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan (“Dissemination of deliberately false information”).
According to the press service of the department, some people deliberately classify lawful investigative and procedural actions provided for by the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Kazakhstan as torture.
“Such investigative actions as summons for interrogation, conducting the interrogation itself, and the court's selection of a preventive measure in the form of house arrest are deliberately portrayed as torture. Thus, the public is being misled,” the statement says.
The Prosecutor General's Office noted that the concept of torture is clearly defined in the legislation.
“Torture is understood as the deliberate use of physical force or psychological pressure by an official. This fully complies with the norms of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, ratified by our country, as well as the Istanbul Protocol,” the department stated.
The prosecutor's office reported that to date, no illegal actions or instances of torture by investigative bodies against participants in the mentioned criminal cases have been recorded.
“These individuals are spreading false information with the aim of shaping public opinion favourable to themselves, discrediting law enforcement agencies, and creating obstacles to ensuring the completeness, comprehensiveness, and objectivity of the criminal investigation,” the statement says.
In this regard, the Prosecutor General's Office has warned of criminal liability for disseminating deliberately false information, as well as for any form of interference in the activities of a person conducting a pre-trial investigation.
It will be recalled that criminal cases have been initiated against the editor-in-chief of the publication ORDA, Gulnar Bazhkenova. Searches were conducted at the media outlet's office, and she was placed under house arrest by a court decision.
The day before, Bazhkenova’s lawyer, Murat Adam, issued an appeal in which he characterised what was happening as the use of torture. The lawyer's statement received widespread public resonance and discussion on social networks.