“Kazakhstan is a vast, resource-rich country in Central Asia. The former Soviet republic was ruled for three decades by Nursultan Nazarbayev, a despotic former Soviet officialwho handed over the reins to his chosen successor in 2019. Kazakhstan suppresses free speech and regularly suppresses opposition groups, journalists, independent trade unions and public protests. Previously, it was documented that the country is using Pegasus software from the NSO Group, as well as spyware created by the manufacturer Hacking Team from Milan, ”said the OCCRP Center for Corruption and Organized Crime Research.
The center so far lists the names of eight people who were the objects of surveillance - these are President Tokayev, Prime Minister Mamin, Akim Sagintayev, as well as journalists Serikzhan Mauletbai and Bigeldy Gabdullin, human rights activist Bakhytzhan Toregozhina, and activists Martin Villiaume and Quentin Guymen.
Photo source: picture from an open source