This Wednesday, 16 December, there will be a special event to mark the fourth anniversary of the Zhanaozen massacre in Kazakhstan and to launch a book of poems by the imprisoned writer, Aron Atabek. (Details below.)

There will be music - including a performance of a special piece for cello and guitar by James Hesford, dedicated to the poet, and readings of some of Aron’s poems.

PRESS RELEASE

Wednesday 16th December marks the fourth anniversary of the tragic events of Zhanaozen in Western Kazakhstan. State forces attacked and killed over 70 unarmed civilians – striking oil-workers, family members and supporters. The Nazarbayev government (with whom the British government has close relations) to this day hides the truth about this atrocity and their own direct role in ordering it. The same regime locks up outspoken critics and activists – sometimes for decades.

Aron Atabek is a world-renowned poet and writer languishing in one of Nazarbayev’s prisons on trumped up charges after facing down bull-dozers in 2006 during mass protests to save people’s homes. He has often been held in solitary confinement and deprived of family visits and even pencils and paper. If campaigning to get all charges dropped are not successful, he has another ten years of sentence to serve…until he reaches the age of 72!

In this context Campaign Kazakhstan is holding the launch of a book of poems by Aron Atabek available for the first time in English thanks to Alfia Nikipbekova and Niall McDevitt.

We invite you to come along to obtain a review copy and discuss what can be done to publicise the campaign to free the poet and fighter, Aron Atabek.

Wednesday, 16 December at 7pm
Headquarters of Unite the Union
128 Theobalds Rd
London WC1X 8TN