The "Say No To The Animal World" government-approved anti-violence rally was held in Almaty by the New People youth movement, which backs the policies of Kazakhstan's President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev.
'Dogs Are Good, Regime Lapdogs Are Bad': Government-Sanctioned Anti-Violence Rally Held in Almaty
A man clutches a teddy bear covered in red paint to symbolize blood during a government-approved, anti-violence rally held in the Kazakh city of Almaty on November 26. Organized by the New People youth movement, roughly 300 people took part.
The rally was dubbed "Say No To The Animal World," with organizers likening violent people to animals.
Pigeons fill the sky above the statue of Soviet figure Mikhail Kalinin at the site of the rally.
Event organizers handed out banners, stuffed toys, and purple-and-yellow scarves to the assembled group of young people at the rally.
The event, by supporters of Kazakhstan's President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, appeared to be highly choreographed.
The event, by supporters of Kazakhstan's President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, appeared to be highly choreographed.
The recently formed New People organization met with Toqaev earlier this month to voice their support of his government's policies.
During the meeting with the movement leaders, Toqaev stated that the nation's youth are being called upon to help the state through their civic engagement. He also added that the movement's participants may end up as deputies, ministers, or even presidents.
Asel Badenova, leader of the New People, spoke to the assembled audience.
"Today we gather at this square to say no to the animal world. The president says that we should live by laws and regulations. But there are people who do not want to obey the law. They want to follow their instincts and live by their emotions. They do not understand the word no," he said.
In January 2022, over 200 people were killed and thousands were arrested in Kazakhstan in civil unrest and protests against the government.
Kazakhstan has made efforts to modernize its economy and society, yet political pluralism and freedom of expression are often limited.
During the rally two men held up signs that say, "Dogs are good, the regime's lapdogs are bad."
The two activists from the KazLeft, a leftist movement in Kazakhstan, said they were protesting against the government's use of torture and the shooting of protesters.
"Our signs fit the theme of today's rally," said a young man who called himself Ilyas. The activists were warned about the content of their posters but were not removed.
Nongovernmental organizations that support women's rights and call for stronger laws against domestic abuse denounced the rally.
A man peers above a sign that says, "If he beats you, it doesn't mean that he loves you. It means he is going to kill you."
Police officers stand behind a fence at the rally. An RFE/RL correspondent noted the heavy police presence both in uniform and in civilian clothes at the event.
Kazakhstan's Feminita Feminist Initiative voiced its skepticism of the rally on its Instagram page: "Aggressive communication, visuals, and rapid gathering of young people looks like another state project organized by officials," they wrote.
The rally was addressed by Aitbek Amangeldi, the brother of Saltanat Nukenova. Nukenova was beaten to death in an Astana restaurant in November and her husband, former National Economy Minister Quandyq Bishimbaev, was subsequently arrested on suspicion of her murder.
Amangeldi said: "I will never forget the horrors we live in, from domestic violence to law enforcement inaction. Who created this world; who wrote the laws? The people who wrote the law did not live up to our expectations," he said.
A man views his mobile near an art installation that was brought to the rally.
Near the end of the event, participants were asked to hang posters about different types of domestic violence on the mannequins and put on animal masks in solidarity against domestic violence.
Participants also observed a minute of silence in memory of the victims of domestic violence.