Using poetry and prose, a political dissident dismantles the illusions of democracy in Kazakhstan and calls for a socially-minded, just society.
ARON ATABEK
Kazakhstan
‘Nazarbayev’s Regime and Revolution’ — Creative Writing
A member of the independent political party Alash in Kazakhstan, Aron Atabek is also a prominent dissident, poet and writer. Until his arrest in 2006, Atabek often played a key role in moderating clashes between civilians and political forces.
Following a protest against the demolition of shanty-town settlements in Shanyrak, Atabek was arrested and convicted of orchestrating the mass disorder which resulted in the death of a police officer in 2007. Sentenced to 18 years in prison, Atabek was offered a pardon by the government in exchange to admission of guilt, which he rejected, vehemently maintaining his innocence.
‘Nazarbayev’s Regime and Revolution’ is one of the collections of Atabek’s prose and poetry published online since his imprisonment. His works are highly critical of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the President of Kazakhstan, and his policies, lamenting the lack of democracy in this former Soviet nation. Atabek describes any hope for a socially-minded, just and democratic society under the corrupt rule of Nazarbayev as an illusion and mocks the elections that brought him to power.
After the public circulation of his work, Atabek was subjected to further harassment in prison and is systematically denied contact with the outside world. And additional two years have been added to his prison sentence, for allegedly refusing to wear his prison uniform. He was also recently transferred to a prison in north Kazakhstan notorious for harsh conditions. According to his ex-wife, he has been placed in solitary confinement and is in poor health.
In order to protect his family from police and political pressure, Atabek divorced his wife immediately before his imprisonment. His ex-wife and two children continue to advocate on his behalf, rallying moral and political support not only for Atabek, but also for the 23 other prisoners arrested in relation to Shanyrak cause. Despite the regime’s attempts to silence him, Atabek remains outspoken critic of the current government in Kazakhstan, somehow finding ways to continue writing from prison for the plight of those with «no possibility for free expression».
Voices of Strength, Imprisoned Artist prize finalists
Freedom to Create
Voices of Courage, 2010