Release / Harassment February 19, 2021 The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a partnership of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) and FIDH, has received new information and requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Kazakhstan. The Observatory has been informed about the release and continuing judicial harassment of Max Bokayev, head of the NGO “Arlan”[1] and a human rights defender working for the protection of the environment, freedom of expression and the fight against torture[2]. On February 4, 2021, Max Bokayev was released from a penal colony in Atyrau, Western Kazakhstan, upon completion of his five-year sentence for his crucial role in organising peaceful protests that took place in April and May 2016 against the amendments to the Land Code of Kazakhstan[3]. President Nursultan Nazarbayev had subsequently imposed a moratorium on the amendments, yet Mr. Bokayev remained in prison. The Observatory recalls that the five-year sentence against Max Bokayev also provided that the latter shall be banned from engaging in social activities for three additional years from the date of his release (see below).