ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- A court in Almaty has approved the detention of Karakalpak activist Aqylbek Muratbai (aka Muratov), known for his activities defending the rights of Karakalpaks living in Kazakhstan, for 40 days as he awaits a decision on his extradition by the Kazakh Prosecutor-General's Office.
The Vlast website quoted Muratbai's sister on February 18 as saying the hearing was held behind closed doors and that his lawyer has yet to receive official confirmation of the decision.
Muratov, an Uzbek citizen who has resided in Almaty for years, is known for his activities defending the rights of Karakalpaks living in Kazakhstan. He also raised awareness among international audiences about the situation in his native Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan within Uzbekistan.
Muratov's partner, Indira Beisembaeva, told RFE/RL earlier that police detained him at around 10 p.m. local time on February 15.
SEE ALSO: Well-Known Kazakh-Based Karakalpak Activist Detained On Uzbek Request, Partner SaysThe Vienna-based Freedom for Eurasia rights group issued a statement on February 15 condemning Muratbai's arrest and urging Kazakh authorities "to protect Aqylbek Muratbai's fundamental rights and release him without delay."
According to Freedom for Eurasia, Muratbai's detention was led by Uzbek police officer Muhamedin Baimurzaev.
A lawyer for the Almaty-based Kazakh Bureau for Human Rights group, Denis Dzhivaga, told RFE/RL that his organization will provide Muratbai with legal assistance.
According to Dzhivaga, Muratbai's detention was similar to the arrests of other Karakalpak activists that took place in Kazakhstan following mass rallies in Karakalpakstan's capital, Nukus, in July 2022. Thousands protested against Tashkent's plans to change the constitution that would have undermined the republic's right to self-determination.
The protests were violently dispersed. Uzbek authorities said at the time that 21 people died during the protests, but Freedom for Eurasia human rights group said at least 70 people were killed during the unrest.
SEE ALSO: Another Group Of Karakalpak Activists Handed Prison Terms In Uzbekistan Over Protests In 2022In January last year, an Uzbek court sentenced 22 Karakalpak activists to prison terms on charges including undermining the constitutional order for taking part in the protests.
In March 2023, another 39 Karakalpak activists accused of taking part in the protests in Nukus were convicted, with 28 of them sentenced to prison terms of between five years and 11 years. Eleven defendants were handed parole-like sentences.
The violence forced Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev to make a rare about-face and scrap the proposal.
Karakalpaks are a Central Asian Turkic-speaking people. Their region used to be an autonomous area within Kazakhstan before becoming autonomous within the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1930 and then part of Uzbekistan in 1936.