unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Maria Arena
Political group: S-D
Country: Belgium
Language: FR

Mais cette crise met aussi en lumière un régime autocratique qui a été mis en place par Nazarbaïev, qui lui-même a organisé un transfert de pouvoirs à Tokaïev en maintenant son influence politique et économique et qui a renforcé les injustices, et le mécontentement s’est exprimé par la rue. Il apparaît également qu’à ce mécontentement populaire s’est ajoutée une guerre des clans. Ce pays, longtemps considéré comme la stabilité de la région par un certain nombre d’acteurs, est devenu l’instabilité de la région. Sans doute faut-il évaluer notre soutien européen à une élite kazakhe qui ne voyait que son enrichissement personnel et l’appauvrissement de ses peuples. Je pense qu’il faut une évaluation et une modification de notre politique extérieure.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Klemen Grošelj
Political group: Renew
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

What we know for sure is that extreme violence and rioting took place, people died and the country was on the verge of sliding into complete chaos. There seems to be consensus that social issues were the trigger of these protests, as peaceful demonstrators demanded lower fuel prices and political change in the country. However, the nature of the protests completely changed when rioting, robbing and use of firearms in the streets began. Some reports indicate an excessive use of force by the authorities, but it is also true that rioters used force; some of them were armed and extremely violent, not only towards the police, but also towards fellow citizens and bystanders.  What we need now is a foreign investigation of recent events, with the involvement of the international community. I think the OSCE can do an excellent job in this matter. But above all we need to stress that it is in the hands of the Kazakh authorities to draw lessons from these tragic events if they wish to be a strategic partner of the European Union. Kazakhstan needs to start an open and frank process of democratisation of its society. I know it is a tough choice, but the only way to guarantee the long-term stability and prosperity of the country is to ensure the full respect of all citizens’ fundamental rights.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

The people of Kazakhstan have long enough tolerated hardships and injustice. Their patience reached its limit and they have started protesting peacefully. Increased gas prices are not the root cause of discontent, but a symptom of a larger social injustice. It is a common practice in an autocratic state that growing dissatisfaction is abused by a few. Small violent groups hijacked the peaceful protest and, in an orchestrated manner, started looting, setting on fire and storming the official buildings.  While defending institutions is an obligation of any government, it does not justify the disproportionate use of force. Peaceful protesters were stripped of their rights of expression. The term ‘terrorist’ was randomly used. Over 10 000 people were detained and President Tokayev gave orders to shoot without warning. Shutting down the internet and further restricting media freedom left the Kazakhs uninformed and alarmed.  Moreover, in an unprecedented move, President Tokayev invited Russian troops to restore order. This sets a dangerous precedent in the 30 years of sovereign statehood that was preserved carefully by balancing the powerful neighbours and its own ethnic groups. The invited Shanghai Cooperation Organisation groups were led by the same Russian general who also participated in annexing Crimea and other occupations.  Those foreign forces have now mostly left. However, not only Tokayev, but the whole country have to foot the bill for Putin’s services. What will be on the bill? Recognition of Crimea? Control of Kazakhstan’s uranium mines? A new military base? Time will tell.  Meanwhile, the EU was again shamefully absent from this crisis. Instead of shuttle diplomacy and presence on the ground, we limited ourselves with expression – again, traditional concerns. We need to be and can be more active. We should support Kazakhstan if its sovereignty comes under attack. But equally important is to stand with the journalists, civil society and activists that defend the democracy.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Thierry Mariani
Political group: ID
Country: Croatia
Language: FR

C'est donc avec une certaine surprise que j'ai appris l'inscription de ce débat à l'ordre du jour. Je m'en suis réjoui au début. Je me disais que, peut-être, notre Parlement évoquerait la stabilité de ce pays depuis l'indépendance. Pas de guerre civile sanglante comme au Tadjikistan. Pas de conflit avec les États voisins comme entre l'Arménie et l'Azerbaïdjan. J'imaginais peut-être que nous allions encourager le développement qui y règne. Je pensais que nous rappelle l'importance de nos relations commerciales pour les matières premières avec ce grand pays d'Asie centrale. Je me disais naïvement peut-être que nous féliciterions le Kazakhstan pour sa paix religieuse dans une partie du monde en proie à la radicalisation islamiste.  Mais non, j'oubliais que ces résolutions ne servent en réalité qu'à donner bonne conscience à notre Parlement. Il faut condamner et si possible condamner vite. Même si on dispose d'absolument trop peu d'informations. Nous ne savons pas exactement ce qui s'est passé au Kazakhstan. D'autres orateurs l'ont souligné avant moi. Nous savons par contre qu'il y a eu beaucoup trop de vies perdues chez les manifestants comme chez les forces de sécurité.  Est-ce une émeute à cause de l'inflation? Est-ce une nouvelle manipulation de monsieur Abliazov grâce aux milliards de dollars qu'il a volés au peuple kazakh et qui lui servent à financer des organisations pour déstabiliser le pays? Est-ce le résultat de tensions politiques? Nous n'en savons rien avec sûreté à cette heure-ci.  Et pourtant, une majorité de députés brandit fièrement ces condamnations. Car les progrès du Kazakhstan, son rôle central dans les nouvelles routes de la soie, son évolution politique, visiblement, passent au second plan. Ce qui semble intéresser la majorité de ce Parlement, c'est d'utiliser toutes les situations pour attaquer la Russie ou la Chine.  J'adresse toutes mes condoléances aux victimes militaires et civiles de ces événements et je souhaite que la lumière soit faite et que le Kazakhstan reprenne son développement tant économique que démocratique.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Hermann Tertsch
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: ES

No sabemos si estos disturbios han sido utilizados en guerras de familia internas en el régimen; lo que sí sabemos es, por un lado, que se ha aplastado a la oposición y, por otro lado, sabemos también, lo sabemos muy bien, que los rusos han llegado, que los rusos han creado un precedente muy importante de intervención en un país exterior para restablecer supuestamente la calma, como ya hacían otrora bajo el régimen soviético. En ese sentido, en estos momentos en que tenemos la crisis de Ucrania, es realmente preocupante que la Unión Europea no haya existido, que Borrell no haya existido, una vez más, para las cuestiones importantes.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Özlem Demirel
Political group: The Left
Country: Hungary
Language: DE

Kasachstan gehört zu den wichtigsten Erdöl- und Gasexporteuren der Welt. Doch das normale Volk in Kasachstan kann sich nicht einmal einen vollen Tank leisten. Westliche Unternehmen wie Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, Eni und der russische Konzern Lukoil betreiben die Ausbeutung der kasachischen Öl- und Gasvorkommen. US-Firmen sind die wichtigsten Investoren. China tritt verstärkter auf. Eine kleine Clique Korrupter regiert, plündert und verkauft das Land, während die Bevölkerung verarmt. Dagegen wehrt sich das Volk. Arbeiterstreiks in Ölraffinerien gegen Massenentlassungen haben breite Teile der Bevölkerung mit zu einem sozialen Aufstand bewegt. Sie fordern soziale Sicherheit, das Recht auf unabhängige Gewerkschaften, die grundsätzliche Organisationsfreiheit. Die Reaktion aus der EU gegen diese martialische Staatsgewalt gegen demonstrierende, streikende Arbeiterinnen und Arbeiter war aber bemerkenswert zögerlich. Soziale Aufstände, die eventuell eigene Kapitalinteressen negativ betreffen könnten, sieht man hier scheinbar auch nicht so gerne. Man verweist auf den Machtkampf der korrupten Cliquen in Kasachstan. Ja, die gibt es, und ja, die versuchen den Aufstand zu instrumentalisieren – aber das ändert nichts am Charakter, dass es ein Volksaufstand ist, dass es Arbeiter sind, die streiken. Und meine Solidarität gehört ihnen und ihren berechtigten Forderungen.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Milan Uhrík
Political group: NI
Country: Austria
Language: SK

Vážený pán predsedajúci. Po nepokojoch na Ukrajine a v Bielorusku sme svedkami ďalšieho pokusu o destabilizáciu ďalšej postsocialistickej krajiny, tentokrát Kazachstanu.  Mainstreamové médiá najprv informovali, že protestujúci v Kazachstane sú len obyčajní ľudia, ktorým vadí desaťcentové zdraženie cien energií resp. plynu. Americký prezident Biden dokonca varoval kazašskú vládu a Ruskú federáciu pred porušovaním ľudských práv demonštrantov, pretože inak bude musieť Amerika zasiahnuť. Lenže potom niektorí z týchto demonštrantov zobrali do rúk zbrane a podpálili vládne budovy, podpálili štyri sídla televízií, obsadili medzinárodné letisko a odrezali hlavy dvom mladým policajtom. Jednoducho teroristi, ktorí sa pokúsili v Kazachstane o štátny prevrat.  A ja nepovažujem za správne, aby teraz Západ alebo Európska únia potvrdila Kazachstan len preto, že aj s podporou Ruskej federácie a ďalších krajín zabránili tomuto štátnemu prevratu. Jediní, koho tu treba odsúdiť, a nahlas, sú teroristi, ktorí tieto štátne prevraty rozpútavajú, financujú a podporujú.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Tomislav Sokol
Political group: PPE
Country: Italy
Language: HR

Poštovani predsjedniče, povjerenice, kolegice i kolege, nedavno smo svjedočili prosvjedima koji su izbili u Kazahstanu nakon što je vlada početkom godine znatno povećala cijene plina.  Mnogo toga još je nejasno ali znamo da su prosvjedi započeli u zapadnom dijelu zemlje a nezadovoljstvo građana ubrzo se proširilo na ostatak zemlje i preraslo je u opće prosvjede protiv korupcije, siromaštva i nejednakosti. Skupovi su potom eskalirali u nerede i oružane sukobe te je zabilježen niz slučajeva kršenja ljudskih prava. Do ovih prosvjeda, naftom bogati Kazahstan, jednu od najvećih zemalja svijeta mnogi su smatrali najstabilnijom državom u nestabilnoj regiji. Od pet srednjoazijskih država koje su stekle neovisnost nakon raspada Sovjetskog Saveza Kazahstan je daleko najveći i najbogatiji. Veličine je Zapadne Europe i leži na velikim zalihama nafte, prirodnog plina, plemenitih metala te najveći je svjetski proizvođač urana.  Eskalacija nezadovoljstva i nastala kriza izazvali su naročitu pažnju dva moćna kazahstanska susjeda, Rusije i Kine. Zemlja većinu svog izvoza nafte plasira u Kinu a tradicionalno je čvrsto u ruskoj geopolitičkoj sferi interesa. Nakon više dana prosvjeda i gotovo pravog rata na ulicama mnogih gradova Kazahstana, režim je polako uz pomoć Organizacije ugovora o kolektivnoj sigurnosti koja je poslala vojne snage sastavljene uglavnom od ruske vojske ponovno uspostavio kontrolu. Rusija je time pokazala da je najsnažniji partner sadašnjoj vladi u sprečavanju izbijanja bilo kakve revolucije koja bi mogla ugroziti trenutnu vlast. Shodno tome, sadašnja ili bilo koja buduća vlada u toj zemlji postat će još više ovisna o Kremlju. To pokazuje da Moskva i dalje shvaća prostore bivšeg Sovjetskog Saveza svojim dvorištem. Toga moramo biti svjesni i njezinu snagu ne smijemo podcjenjivati.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Evin Incir
Political group: S-D
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

Mr President, freedom, democracy and social justice are core values of the European Union. We need to stand up for them within our Union, as well as defend them beyond.  In recent weeks, we have witnessed the people of Kazakhstan take to the streets to protest against social and economic inequalities, corruption and authoritarian governance. A president that instructs his military to fire live ammunition against his own people does not respect human rights. A president that shuts down the internet in order to limit the voice of his journalists and his citizens does not respect freedom of expression. A president that prohibits mass gatherings to silence his population violates the right to assembly. It is our duty as political leaders to listen to the voice of the Kazakh people, to call for an independent investigation into recent events, and to sanction the authorities behind the actions.  Silence may not cost us anything, but for the people of Kazakhstan, it costs everything. Let’s act now.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Atidzhe Alieva-Veli
Political group: Renew
Country: Bulgaria
Language: BG

Г-н Председател, уважаеми колеги, за огромно съжаление новата година не започна добре в Казахстан. Станахме свидетели на мирни протести, които за изключително кратко време се превърнаха в сцени на насилие. Следях отблизо събитията и на първо място бих искала да изкажа своята солидарност към гражданите и да поднеса искрените си съболезнования към семействата и близките на всички жертви. Вярвам в правото на гражданите на мирни протести, като начин на изразяване. Същевременно обаче е важно да се направи разлика между мирните протестиращи и онези, които са били там, за да провокират насилие и безредици.  Бих искала да подчертая, от друга страна, че държавата има право и задължение да поддържа мира, но силата, която се използва, трябва винаги да бъде пропорционална. Убедена съм, че има нужда от щателно и прозрачно разследване на тези събития. Приоритетите и усилията в момента трябва да бъдат насочени към зачитане на правата и свободите на гражданите, постигане на напредък по обявените реформи и осигуряване на стабилност в страната и региона. Все още е твърде рано за заключения.  Искрено се надявам исканията на мирните протестиращи за икономически и политически промени да са били чути. Европейският съюз трябва да продължи да подпомага Казахстан по пътя на демокрацията.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Markéta Gregorová
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, it is unfortunate that already, at the beginning of the new year, we are debating grave violations of human rights happening worldwide here, and Kazakhstan is in the spotlight.  The citizens of Kazakhstan have spoken clearly before. They want to have a more democratic country, where inequalities in the rich fuel-producing country would fade away, and freedom of speech, the right to peaceful protest and freedom to choose political representation would be upheld. Instead, people are given a cult of oligarchic personality, none of the promises fulfilled, and inequalities widened.  The actual conditions of long-term tension led to the protest. It is disgraceful that instead of leading debate with protesters and fulfilling some of the promised reforms, people were labelled as terrorists, violently beaten and killed.  The EU, as a proclaimed leader in human rights, must reflect on what has been happening. Sadly, the EU has no voice in the region and has reacted with too little, too late. Furthermore, how can the sanction mechanism work when people like Orbán cannot recognise human rights violations and can block, thanks to the unanimity rule, the vote at the Council?  For change to occur, we must establish ourselves as the influential partner who can help with peaceful resolutions, and to have credibility, we must impose targeted sanctions on the high-level Kazakh officials responsible or change our voting mechanism, which simply does not work.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Bernhard Zimniok
Political group: ID
Language: DE

Herr Präsident, werte Kollegen! Ich habe Verständnis für die Bürger Kasachstans, wenn sie sich erheben, um der schamlosen Ausbeutung des Landes durch die Eliten ein Ende zu bereiten. 225 Tote, hunderte Verletzte und tausende Inhaftierte sind die bisherige traurige Bilanz. Das ist scharf zu verurteilen, das muss verurteilt werden – keine Frage. Dass jedoch ausgerechnet die deutsche Regierung Kasachstan dazu auffordert, die Versammlungs- und Meinungsfreiheit zu respektieren, ist schon grotesk. Bei uns reagiert die Regierung auf die landesweiten friedlichen Massenproteste gegen die Corona-Maßnahmen mit vollkommen unverhältnismäßigen Mitteln: mit einem Angriff auf die Versammlungsfreiheit. Selbst zwei Bürger, die zusammen stehen oder gehen, können schon als eine unerlaubte Demo gewertet werden. Ein harmloser Einkaufsbummel eines Ehepaars kann ihm damit zum Verhängnis werden. Halten Sie den Mund! Ein Priester, der mit ein paar Gläubigen in München den Rosenkranz gebetet hat, wurde vor meinen Augen in Polizeigewahrsam genommen. Vorwurf: unerlaubte Versammlung. Ich dachte, ich bin in Nordkorea. Das Verbot von Telegram steht im Raum, um die Bürger weiter in ihrer Meinungsfreiheit einzuschränken. Dass sich die Bürger lediglich Alternativen zu den Medien suchen, die nur noch Haltung statt Fakten vermitteln, scheint wenig zu interessieren. Grundrechte erweisen sich scheinbar nur noch als politischer Ballast. Noch nie in unserer deutschen Geschichte wurde das Leben so stark eingeschränkt wie heute. Verbote und Grundrechtseinschränkungen sind aber Instrumente, die einer Demokratie absolut unwürdig sind.  Hunderttausende friedliche Demonstranten aus der Mitte der Gesellschaft werden als Rechtsradikale, Nazis und Staatsfeinde bezeichnet. Mit Verhaftungen und hohen Geldstrafen sollen sie mundtot gemacht werden. So löst man keine Probleme, sondern man muss vielmehr aufpassen, nicht selbst vollendet in totalitäre Zustände abzugleiten. Liebe Bundesregierung, …
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Ryszard Czarnecki
Political group: ECR
Country: France
Language: PL

Panie Przewodniczący! Pani Komisarz! Gratulacje dla Pana Przewodniczącego z okazji wyboru. Jesteśmy z krajów ze sobą sąsiadujących, jako sąsiad trzymam kciuki za sąsiada.  Moje przemówienie rozpocznę nie od polityki, bo jesteśmy wszyscy ludźmi. Myślę, że z tej sali powinny popłynąć kondolencje i wyrazy współczucia dla rodzin tych, którzy zginęli w Kazachstanie. W moim przekonaniu powinniśmy tak uczynić i życzyć temu krajowi i jego społeczeństwu, aby, tak jak przez ostatnie 30 lat, był w dalszym ciągu (o czym już tu wspomniano) krajem, który jest przykładem stabilizacji w Azji postsowieckiej, w Azji Środkowej. Byłem w Kazachstanie 11 razy. Nigdy nie powiem, że jestem ekspertem, ale myślę, że trochę znam sytuację w tym państwie. Tym, którzy nie byli tam ani razu i formułują daleko idące wnioski, życzyłbym skromności. Myślę, że dzisiaj trzeba życzyć naszemu partnerowi – bo Kazachstan jest bardzo ważnym partnerem Unii Europejskiej, jednym z 10 największych państw świata – właśnie stabilizacji.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Vladimír Bilčík
Political group: PPE
Country: France
Language: EN

Mr President, let me express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives in the past weeks in Kazakhstan. The exercise of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly should never result in the images and violence we saw in various cities across Kazakhstan.  Kazakhstan is an important member of the international community. It also carries a lot of geopolitical weight in Eurasia. What happens in the biggest country in Central Asia has a direct impact on all countries in the region. Therefore, the political responsibility of those in power towards their own domestic issues is important, both within and outside of Kazakhstan. It is imperative that the political leadership of the country follows and abides by international obligations. To put it plainly, it is unacceptable that peaceful protesters are shot in the streets.  Kazakhstan’s international standing and image has suffered over the past weeks. The pictures of violence and indiscriminate shooting have circulated around the world. It is imperative that the country’s political leadership and public institutions address and investigate thoroughly the events of the past weeks and release political prisoners. Kazakhstan’s international standing will also be judged by its approach to freedom of information. In times of crisis, citizens have the right to be informed, and journalists must be allowed to carry out their work freely. Tools such as internet blackouts and inviting foreign troops to its territory fundamentally question the country’s international place, but also the domestic capacity to govern in line with Kazakhstan’s declared commitments. Kazakhstan, as a matter of fact, enjoys the most advanced bilateral relations with the EU in Central Asia. The Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement provides the basic framework for our bilateral relations, and we should use it to address the consequences of the recent crisis, but also to build a deeper engagement with Kazakhstan.  We must step up our engagement in Central Asia, not only in times of crisis, but also in day—to—day cooperation. We need to be firm, but also to keep our communication channels open. If we don’t, we shall remain mere spectators from afar and Kazakhstan’s big neighbours, China and Russia, will happily overpower us. In our policy we must be both principled and wisely consequential.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Juozas Olekas
Political group: S-D
Country: Spain
Language: EN

Mr President, first of all, I would like to express my condolences to the relatives of the victims. I would like to join many of you in condemning the recent events in Kazakhstan. The initially peaceful demonstrations, with legitimate economic and political demands, were hijacked by criminal elements, and then the military responded with excessive and sometimes non—discriminatory use of force. I would call on the Kazakh authorities to respect the rights of the citizens, including the right of peaceful demonstration. I also call on the authorities to conduct a transparent inquiry on the cause of the incidents and to prosecute those who are responsible for violence and for the excessive use of force. In order for the investigation to be as transparent as possible, it is important for this investigation to include representatives of international organisations and NGOs. I believe that our European partners also could take the initiative and send a fact—finding mission to the country.
Debate: Situation in Kazakhstan
Date: WEDNESDAY, 19 JANUARY 2022
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Political group: Renew
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

Mr President, I would like to congratulate you on your debut in this position and I wish you all the best.  Commissioner, dear colleagues, for decades, the ruling elites in Kazakhstan have been used to winning elections for with nearly 100% of the votes, but never felt safe facing people’s anger. Political instruments like Leader of the Nation gave them access to unlimited personal wealth and the influence of privileged groups, but were largely based on the fierce persecution and intimidation of political opponents. The unsustainable political system alone was unresolved and deepening social economic problems typical of the Soviet legacy is an optimal scenario for the influence and intervention of Russia, a kind of  Independent investigation, access to impartial legal defence and deep political reforms, not foreign intervention forces, is a genuine way forward for Kazakhstan. The European Union must review and strengthen its political conditionality vis-à-vis Kazakhstan.