Transgender Activist Detained During Single Picket Against “LGBT Propaganda” Amendments in Astana
A transgender activist was detained by police in Kazakhstan’s capital after staging a solo protest calling on authorities to reject legislative amendments introducing restrictions on the so-called “LGBT propaganda”.
Protest near government institutions
At approximately 15:38, Yara Tychyna, a transgender woman and resident of Astana, held a single-person picket on the Water-Green Boulevard, an area located near the House of Ministries and the Parliament of Kazakhstan.
During the protest, she displayed a handmade transgender pride flag and called on the Senate, the Presidential Administration, and the President of Kazakhstan to reject the proposed amendments currently being considered in parliament.
Shortly after the protest began, police officers detained Yara and transported her to the Yesil District Police Department in Astana.
Lawyers initially denied access
By 16:06, representatives providing legal assistance reported that official legal representatives were not being allowed to enter the police department to meet with Yara.
According to the legal team, the officer on duty refused access without providing a formal written justification, referring only to an unspecified oral order from superiors.
Lawyers contacted the prosecutor’s office, arguing that the restriction violated procedural guarantees of legal representation. The prosecutor’s office stated that it would communicate with the police department regarding the issue.
Conflicting instructions from authorities
At 16:16, a prosecutor informed the legal team by phone that lawyers would be allowed to enter the building. However, the duty officer at the police station continued to deny access, again referring to instructions from the department’s leadership.
The prosecutor indicated that he would contact the head of the district police department. After this communication, he temporarily stopped responding to calls from the legal team.
Limited access granted to legal representatives
At 17:16, police eventually allowed one legal representative from the Human Rights LGBTQIA+ Initiative REQUEST to enter the police department.
A second representative was at the prosecutor’s office at that moment and later returned to the police station.
Activist released later in the evening
At 18:49, Yara Tychyna was released from police custody. Members of the REQUEST legal team were present with her at the time of release and continue to represent her interests.
Later, at 20:05, Yara published her first video statement after the protest and detention.
In the video, she noted that all official updates regarding the case and any further legal steps will be communicated either by herself or by the LGBTQIA+ human rights initiative REQUEST, whose legal team is providing her with legal support.
Context
The protest took place amid heightened public debate around proposed legislative amendments in Kazakhstan that would introduce administrative liability for the so-called “propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations”.
The draft amendments have recently passed through parliamentary procedures and have become a focal point of advocacy efforts by civil society organizations and human rights groups.