unimelb-nlp/MultiEup-v2 huggingface dataset:
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Andris Ameriks
Country: Latvia
Language: LV

Es gribētu sākt ar to, ka Kazahstāna ir ļoti svarīgs Eiropas Savienības partneris un attiecības ar Kazahstānu kā vienu no Centrālās Āzijas reģiona stabilitātes un attīstības nodrošinātāju ir ļoti nozīmīgas. Augsti vērtējamas ir arī veiktās reformas valsts pārvaldē un likumdošanā, tai skaitā atceļot nāves sodu. Tieši tāpēc kā Eiropas Savienības nozīmīgam, uz nākotni vērstam partnerim, kā mūsu draugam ir svarīgi izteikt to kritiku, tās bažas par cilvēktiesību normu ievērošanu un nepieciešamību paātrināt un paplašināt demokrātijas reformu ieviešanu. Jau gadu atpakaļ ir stājies spēkā Eiropas Savienības un Kazahstānas uzlabotais partnerības un sadarbības nolīgums, kura mērķis ir nodrošināt plašu pamatu pastiprinātam politiskam dialogam, kur būtiska loma ir demokrātijai, tiesiskumam, cilvēktiesībām un pamatvērtībām. Mūsu kopīgs mērķis ir iedzīvotāju labklājība un demokrātija.  Šodien mēs balsosim par rezolūciju par cilvēktiesību pārkāpumiem Kazahstānā. Kāpēc šis jautājums vispār ir nonācis mūsu dienaskārtībā?  Sākot no pagājušā gada augusta, līdz pat gada beigām vairākos Kazahstānas reģionos bez pietiekoša pamata un pierādījumiem varas iestādes sāka vērsties pret pilsoniskās sabiedrības pārstāvošām organizācijām. Sākās pārbaudes par šo organizāciju saņemtajiem ziedojumiem no ārvalstīm un to izlietojumu. Kopā pret vairāk nekā 20 nevalstiskām organizācijām tika uzsāktas lietvedības. Dažām tika uzlikti lieli naudas sodi, un vairākas organizācijas bija spiestas pārtraukt savu darbību. Šādas Kazahstānas varas iestāžu darbības piesaistīja starptautiskās sabiedrības, tai skaitā arī Eiropas Savienības uzmanību. Un mums ir jāreaģē! Es aicinu Kazahstānas valdību rīkoties saskaņā ar tās starptautiskajām saistībām, ievērot cilvēktiesības un pamatvērtības. Tāpat aicinu Kazahstānu īstenot reformas, kuru mērķis ir valsts modernizācijas, demokrātijas un stabilitātes veicināšana, kā arī stiprināt centienus reformēt Kazahstānas politisko sistēmu, lai attīstītu parlamentārismu un daudzpartiju sistēmu, un paplašināt arī pilsonisko līdzdalību.  Es vēlreiz vēlos uzsvērt, ka Kazahstāna ir ciešs un uzticams Eiropas Savienības sabiedrotais Centrālāzijas reģionā un Eiropas Savienības un Kazahstānas draudzība ļauj garantēt daudz lielāku drošību šajā reģionā un pārskatāmāku nākotni valsts iedzīvotājiem.  Taču ir lietas, kas ciešā sadarbībā ar Eiropas Savienības institūcijām, Eiropas Parlamentu vēl būtu jāpaveic. Man Kazahstāna savos centienus stiprināt demokrātiskos procesus liekas simpātiska, un uzskatu viņus par saviem draugiem. Tāpēc šī rezolūcija kalpos kā laba ceļa karte, kas sniegs vēl lielāku ieguldījumu Eiropas un Kazahstānas partnerībai.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Petras Auštrevičius
Country: Lithuania
Language: EN

Despite the Kazakh authorities’ promise to improve the human rights record under the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, despite acceptance of more than 200 recommendations provided by the UN Human Rights Council and despite long-standing OSCE/ODHIR recommendations and recent findings of the ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission, the human rights violations in Kazakhstan are taking place on a daily basis.  We are alerted and deeply concerned about the shrinking space of civil society, particularly the cases of several human rights organisations. Those activities were suspended and fined on alleged violations and the crackdown against the independent trade unions. An even more worrisome situation is with peaceful opposition movements, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DCK) and Koshe Partiyasy, as their members and supporters dominate the list of political prisoners.  Last year, five political activists, including Dulat Agadil and his 17-year old son, died as a result of illegal actions and political repression by law enforcement and intelligence agencies. Human rights defenders in Kazakhstan are under constant intimidation, harassment and threat of criminal charges. For example, Elena Semenova is being persecuted for exposing torture in prisons. Raigul Sadyrbayeva for helping activists to defend their rights. Anna Shukeyeva and her husband Baurzhan Atuzbayev for aiding politically persecuted persons.  Recent actions of the Kazakh government, when few political prisoners were released, with fines and suspension of activities for several NGOs were removed, are much welcome, but does not fulfil its commitments. It must be clear that the European Union seeks for cooperation with Kazakhstan, but puts respect for human rights and democracy above economic gains.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Viola Von Cramon-Taubadel
Country: Ireland
Language: EN

Now Nazarbayev’s successor has promised to do a better job at controlled democratisation . At first glance, party registration has been simplified, participation and protests partially allowed, the death penalty was recently abolished and regions were given a bit more self—governance. Yet the recent deterioration of human rights calls into question the real efforts of the new President. The key OSCE recommendations were ignored during the last parliamentary elections, censorship was tightened and internet surveillance reached a dystopian level. Hundreds of peaceful protesters were illegally detained, and the practice of harassing, assaulting and arresting journalists was continued. Women and girls still suffer greatly, despite the introduction of mandatory quotas on electoral lists, not to speak of the terrible situation for women in detention centres. The government cracked down on the civil sector, trade unions and human rights organisations. Prisoners are still being tortured and the number of political prisoners has started to rise again.  The EU is based on the respect for fundamental rights and principles. Therefore, economic cooperation with Kazakhstan, which has huge potential, can only be advanced on condition of respecting our fundamental values. Human rights are not for sale.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Malin Björk
Country: Czechia
Language: EN

So because of their very activities, their democratic activities, journalists, politicians, peaceful protesters, bloggers and human right defenders, civil society is being targeted and this situation cannot go on. With this resolution we want to send a clear message urging the authorities to stop all types of persecution of dissident voices and to release all political prisoners immediately.  In today’s debate I also want to show our solidarity with our sisters in Kazakhstan who fight every day for the right to live a decent life, free from violence. Last year’s Women’s March was the biggest one in Kazakhstan’s independent history. And the women that gathered, they had a manifesto and I quote, we have the experience of living in a country where we do not feel safe, and where the laws do not protect us. Security is the basic need of every person and it is precisely what we are deprived of. The women’s activists wrote. So I want to speak up in solidarity with our sisters who fall victim to gender-based violence and urge Kazakhstan to sign the Istanbul Convention, just as I urge those Member States in the EU that haven’t signed the Istanbul Convention, to do so.  We call for Kazakhstan to adopt robust legislation against violence against women, against gender-based violence, to protect the rights of those that need it most in a situation when we have not full respect for democracy and rule of law. So feminists around Europe, we stand with women’s rights activists in Kazakhstan to speak up against impunity of those perpetrators of gender-based violence.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Thierry Mariani
Country: Croatia
Language: FR

Le Kazakhstan accomplit depuis des années des progrès évidents en matière de démocratie et de respect des droits de l’homme. Le président Tokaïev poursuit l’ouverture annoncée par le président Nazarbaïev et a encore annoncé récemment des réformes qui augmentent les libertés, comme les mesures déjà prises en mai 2020 avec des lois sur les partis politiques et les assemblées. Évidemment, des progrès restent à faire, les autorités kazakhes l’admettent elles-mêmes. Que fait en réalité cette résolution? Elle attaque injustement une des républiques d’Asie centrale qui constitue un exemple dans la région, et envoie donc un signal déplorable aux voisins du Kazakhstan qui essayent de suivre la même voie, comme l’Ouzbékistan. Et puis, cette résolution répond surtout au désir d’un ancien ministre kazakh devenu le mécène de toutes les oppositions dans le pays et à l’étranger, M. Abliazov. Ce monsieur n’est qu’un escroc. Il est accusé d’avoir détourné plus de 6 milliards d’euros dans son pays, lorsqu’il était président de la banque BTA. Il est condamné à la prison à vie pour avoir commandité le meurtre de son associé. Condamné en Grande-Bretagne, recherché en Ukraine et en Russie pour escroquerie, réfugié aujourd’hui en France. Pour se défendre, l’escroc a décidé de se repeindre en défenseur des droits de l’homme et finance abondamment de nombreuses ONG qui, à Bruxelles ou ailleurs, nous harcèlent pour condamner le Kazakhstan. En 1993, à l’initiative du premier président Nazarbaïev, le Kazakhstan a lancé le premier programme Bolashak, qu’on pourrait traduire par «futur», et, depuis, a envoyé des milliers d’étudiants se former dans les meilleures universités américaines et européennes. Pensez-vous que ce soit le signe d’un gouvernement refermé sur lui-même qui aurait peur de la démocratie? Voter cette résolution est un bien mauvais service à rendre à un pays qui, à son rythme, avance sur la voie du développement économique et démocratique.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Seán Kelly
Political group: PPE
Country: Greece
Language: EN

The state of media freedom is also worrying. State-owned or state-subsidised media channels dominate the Kazakhstani media, since the main national opposition newspapers were all banned in 2016. Independent journalists continue to face harassment. Regrettably, gender equality also remains a problem in Kazakhstan. Violence against women is vastly under-reported and LGBTI persons still face legal challenges and discrimination. More must be done to ensure the protection of the victims of gender-based violence. I urge the government of Kazakhstan to fulfil its domestic and international duties by stopping attacking civil society and providing a culture of open government that empowers citizens. Nothing less will suffice. A Uachtaráin, comhghairdeas do mo chomhghleacaithe as ucht labhairt ar an ábhar an-thábhachtach seo.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Nacho Sánchez Amor
Political group: S-D
Country: Poland
Language: ES

Estamos ante un agujero negro en los derechos humanos que sigue mostrando retóricamente una voluntad de reforma, pero que siempre pondrá por delante —lo han hecho tradicionalmente— primero el desarrollo económico y luego lo que ellos llaman una democratización controlada. El grado de esa democratización lo marca la declaración de la OSCE sobre las elecciones: elecciones no competitivas, elecciones sin ningún estándar democrático y sin ninguna transparencia. La presión sobre las ONG sigue, al igual que la presión sobre los sindicatos. Y se ha hablado poco, yo creo, de la complicidad con China en la presión sobre los uigures. Y lo que yo me pregunto es: ¿qué hace nuestra embajada?, ¿qué hace nuestra embajada en Kazajstán, que es la que debe garantizar que el Acuerdo de Cooperación incluya todos los aspectos de derechos humanos?  Hemos recibido, señor comisario, quejas sobre la actitud de nuestra embajada en Kazajistán, que dice practicar una diplomacia silenciosa. Señor comisario, la embajada en Kazajistán necesita tener un cantante de ópera, no a Harpo Marx, dada la situación de derechos humanos. Y creo que, si la embajada en Kazajistán no responde a la presión que le están haciendo, inútilmente, las ONG en materia de derechos humanos, seguramente lo que tenemos que hacer es mandar a un cantante de ópera y quitar a Harpo Marx.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Klemen Grošelj
Political group: Renew
Country: Hungary
Language: EN

We are faced with the rise of authoritarian and semi—authoritarian regimes in our neighbourhood, and Kazakhstan is, unfortunately, one of them. It’s one of the countries in which the transition to democratic society failed, not yesterday but years ago. What we are seeing now is the sliding of the country into an increasingly authoritarian regime, and Central Asia, which is of strategic importance to the EU, is witnessing, in parallel with the rise of China, also the rise of authoritarianism. This authoritarianism is based, rather than on use of brutal force, on the use of sophisticated technologies for mass control of people’s everyday lives. But we don’t need to fill ourselves with illusions. If needed, brutal force is still at the regime’s disposal, and if needed, it will use it without any mercy. But in Kazakhstan, a country at the crossroads of Western and Eastern influence, the regime also uses proven methods of opposition suppression which are part of the well-known arsenal of illiberal democracies. Full control of media, suppression of independent media, internet control and fake news dissemination as well of scores of legal and administrative tricks to rig and manipulate the election process. All this is done to portray to the world the Potemkin mirage of democratic society. In the long run, the suppression of democratic hopes cannot withstand the call for freedom and democracy. For this, I urge the Kazakhstan authorities to release all political prisoners and start the process of democratisation of the country and society and thereby ensure stability and prosperity for all the people of Kazakhstan.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Maximilian Krah
Political group: ID
Country: Greece
Language: DE

Kasachstan ist ein Erfolgsmodell in Zentralasien. Es ist das Land mit der besten Wirtschaftsperformance, es ist das Land, das die meisten Freiheiten gibt, und ein Land, das sich auf den Weg in die Moderne gemacht hat. Ja, es ist noch ein Weg zu gehen. Aber dieses Land verdient es nicht, dass es belehrt wird, und es verdient es vor allen Dingen nicht, dass es belehrt wird aufgrund der Lobbyarbeit von Herrn Äblyazov, der allein in diesem Parlament eine lange Liste von Veranstaltungen durchgeführt hat.  Ich habe mir die Mühe gemacht, vom Wissenschaftlichen Dienst eine Aufstellung über die Tätigkeit der Open Dialog Foundation hier im Europäischen Parlament erstellen zu lassen. Ich kann nur sagen, es ist offensichtlich modern geworden, dass Milliardäre sich als Philanthropen tarnen, um ihre eigenen wirtschaftlichen Interessen durchzusetzen.  Herr Äblyazov ist ein Mörder, der seinen Vorgänger als Bankvorstand hat umbringen lassen und der anschließend 7 Milliarden EUR veruntreut hat. Er ist in England verurteilt worden, er hat Strafverfolgung in Frankreich erlebt, und er wird in diesem Parlament hofiert und seine Organisation wird eingeladen.  Die heutige Entschließung ist ein Ergebnis dieser Lobbyarbeit und das spiegelt sich auch darin wider, dass er unter Buchstabe T der Entschließung namentlich erwähnt wird, indem behauptet wird, die kasachische Justiz habe ihn aus politischen Gründen verurteilt, was falsch ist: Sie hat ihn verurteilt wegen des Mordes an dem vorherigen Bankvorstand. Dass wir uns hier hinstellen und meinen, ein Milliardär, der sagt, er sei Philanthrop, sei ein guter Mensch, und dass wir ein Mordurteil umdichten in ein politisches Urteil, zeigt die gesamte Verlogenheit des Menschenrechtsimperialismus, der hier Mode geworden ist. Es ist besser, wir würden uns darauf konzentrieren, was Kasachstan wirklich ist, als darauf, was ein verurteilter Krimineller daraus machen möchte. Kasachstan ist ein Land, das einen Weg vor sich hat. Aber es ist auch ein Land, dass sich entwickelt, aus dem eine stabile Minderheit in Deutschland kommt, wir haben nämlich ungefähr 800 000 eingewanderte Deutschstämmige in unserem Land. Wir haben nach wie vor eine deutsche Minderheit von 180 000. Wir haben 200 deutsche Unternehmen in Kasachstan. Ich kann all jenen, die meinen, sie müssten hier verurteilen, nur empfehlen, mal hinzufahren. „Die schlimmste Weltanschauung ist die derjenigen, die sich die Welt nie angeschaut haben“, wusste schon Humboldt. Sie glauben lieber einem verurteilten Mörder und Betrüger, anstatt dass Sie sich Daten, Fakten und die Realität anschauen. Das passt leider zu dem Menschenrechtsimperialismus und Werteimperialismus, den wir hier praktizieren. Aber es ist trotzdem beschämend und man muss sich entschuldigen dafür, dass dies neuerdings europäische Politik sein soll.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Heidi Hautala
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Poland
Language: EN

President Tokayev is personally and directly responsible for the persecution of civil society, mass detentions, the silencing of critics, the harassment of opposition members, and, again on 10 January, unfair and unfree parliamentary elections. I quote High Representative Borrell. He said ‘Systemic shortcomings in relation to freedom of association, assembly and expression continue to restrict the political landscape and the lack of competition left voters without a genuine choice’.  Kazakhstan and the people of Kazakhstan are a partner to the EU, but it’s time that the EU held Kazakhstan’s leaders to account. We have the new global human rights sanctions regime. Let’s use it.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Beata Mazurek
Political group: ECR
Country: Malta
Language: PL

Liczymy również na możliwość pogłębiania współpracy z Kazachstanem w zakresie upowszechniania wolności religii i przekonań. Mamy też nadzieję na kontynuację współpracy w zakresie praw człowieka i promocji demokracji w ramach OBWE. W tym kontekście konieczny jest dalszy dialog z Kazachstanem, by pozytywnie oddziaływać na władze tego państwa i ukazywać znaczenie, jakie ma upowszechnianie standardów tej organizacji.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Fabio Massimo Castaldo
Political group: NI
Country: France
Language: IT

Signora Presidente, onorevoli colleghi, egregio Commissario, l'entrata in vigore il 1° marzo 2020 dell'accordo avanzato di partenariato e di cooperazione con il Kazakhstan non ha ancora portato alla svolta necessaria e auspicata nel paese centroasiatico. Le ultime elezioni parlamentari sono in particolare l'emblema di un'importante occasione persa. Non basta semplicemente sfoggiare la forma, serve la sostanza. Come evidenziato dall'OCSE, questo voto è stato marcato da evidenti e persistenti problematiche: arresti mirati e politicamente motivati, un regime di censura pervasivo, esclusione di liste e candidati, molestie e minacce.  Se la giustizia è amministrata attraverso tribunali speciali, decisioni segrete e incarcerazioni preventive indefinite, usate solo per piegare la volontà e la libertà di opinione, per annientare la voce di attivisti, blogger e giornalisti, sindacalisti, religiosi e movimenti di opposizione, allora abbiamo un problema.  Con l'aggiornamento della strategia del 2019 abbiamo riconosciuto la strategicità delle nostre relazioni con gli attori regionali, ma non c'è relazione strategica, caro Commissario, che possa realizzarsi se non vi è rispetto dello Stato di diritto. Abbiamo due grandi strumenti nelle nostre mani: le nostre politiche commerciali e il regime globale di sanzioni. Se esitiamo a usarle quando necessario, se non diamo voce a chi non ne ha, anche la nostra voce perderà di significato.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Isabel Wiseler-Lima
Political group: PPE
Country: Czechia
Language: FR

Madame la Présidente, Monsieur le Commissaire, la situation difficile des droits de l’homme au Kazakhstan n’est pas nouvelle. Si toutefois elle constitue aujourd’hui l’une de nos urgences, c’est que ces dernières semaines la situation générale s’est encore détériorée, avec une répression accrue des organisations de la société civile et des restrictions sévères imposées à la liberté d’expression. Les organisations de défense des droits de l’homme travaillant au Kazakhstan ont été soumises à des pressions et à des sanctions croissantes de la part des autorités, et de nombreux journalistes sont poursuivis. Or, dans l’Union européenne, nous avons d’autant plus la responsabilité de ne pas nous taire face à de telles dérives que nous avons signé avec le Kazakhstan un accord de partenariat et de coopération renforcé – accord entré en vigueur en mars dernier. Cet accord implique que les relations économiques et politiques plus étroites entre le Kazakhstan et l’Union européenne reposent sur des valeurs communes, et le Kazakhstan s’est engagé dès lors à des réformes démocratiques concrètes. Nous estimons dans cette assemblée qu’il est temps que le Kazakhstan tienne ses engagements par rapport à l’Union européenne.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Robert Hajšel
Political group: S-D
Country: Netherlands
Language: EN

Madam President, 30 years following gaining independence, Kazakhstan’s society has been changing a lot. The last positive signal announced was its intention to abolish the death penalty for all crimes. However, the ongoing crackdown on local human rights groups and the persecution of the human rights activists has provoked serious concerns as to whether Kazakhstan’s leadership is genuinely interested in improving its human rights record.  According to human rights groups, coordinated actions and unlawful acts are limiting fundamental rights and freedoms. We also have to be very cautious that the context of the COVID-19 pandemic is not used as a pretext for further escalation of the situation. Such doubts are damaging Kazakhstan’s international reputation and the EU needs to indicate this to Kazakhstan’s authorities clearly, as we have a joint partnership agreement with this Central Asian country. The EU should act consistently to weather any ongoing and long-standing threats towards citizens’ fundamental rights, both within and beyond our external borders, and Kazakhstan cannot be an exception.
Debate: Human rights situation in Kazakhstan
Date: THURSDAY, 11 FEBRUARY 2021
Speaker: Tatjana Ždanoka
Political group: Verts/ALE
Country: Italy
Language: EN

Madam President, as a member and former Vice—Chair of the Delegation on Central Asia, I am for mutual respect for equal dialogue with Kazakhstan. I sharply condemn the violation of rights and freedoms elsewhere in the world, including Kazakhstan. This country has a lot to do to put an end to human rights abuses, but we have to fight for freedoms together. The EU, as it is now, is not suitable for the role of a judge for third countries in human rights matters. In my country, Latvia, non—citizens, who make up 10% of the population, will have no right to take part in the forthcoming local elections. Recently, seven journalists – Alla Berezovskaya and others – were charged with a criminal offence just for the fact of working for certain media. In neighbouring Lithuania, former MP Algirdas Paleckis is persecuted just for his opinion dissenting from the official one. In Spain, former MEPs Oriol Junqueras and Raül Romeva are imprisoned. So I put the following question to my colleagues: do we have the moral right to teach Kazakhstan on democracy and the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, while we ourselves behave badly in the very same area?