Family of jailed Kazakhstan poet coming to London concert

Aron Atabek is a dissident, prize-winning poet and creative writer in Kazakhstan. On his behalf, his wife and son are flying to London to participate in a Campaign Kazakhstan concert on Tuesday 2 October, 7pm, featuring the renowned Cellorhythmics, at the Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8EP.

This evening of music, poetry and protest will help support those families affected by the police massacre in Zhanaozen, Kazakhstan on 16 December last year.

Aron Atabek is currently in jail in Kazakhstan, having served five years of an 18 year sentence for supposedly orchestrating “mass disorder” – protesting against the demolition of the shanty-town Shanrak.

He vehemently denies any guilt, and has rejected an offer by the government of a pardon, on condition that he confessed.

‘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.

Aron Atabek’s wife and son – Zhainagul Aidarkhan and Askar Aidarkhan – will be available for press interviews from 5.00 pm at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8EP.

Or interviews can be arranged anytime during the day by contacting Ben Robinson 07969 119 216

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