02/02/2021 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 1 February, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service denounced the Kazakh authorities’ increasing pressure on and penalisation of several non-governmental human rights organisations working in the country. At least three organisations were suspended for at least three months, and at least three others received substantial fines. “Such actions by the Kazakh authorities not only hamper these reform efforts and limit the essential work of NGOs, but are also detrimental to Kazakhstan’s international reputation”, the spokesperson said, adding that the EU strongly believes that the work of these organisations provides crucial and direct support to the reform agenda of the president and government. “The EU calls on the Kazakh government to urgently address this issue”, the spokesperson added. (CG)