KAZAKHSTAN: candidate 2026 World Cup Football

Andrey Kryukov, Vice Chairman of the Almaty 2022 bid committee, speaks to journalists after the presentation of the Kazakhstan Almaty 2022 Winter Olympics bid for IOC members, June 9, 2015.  On 31 July 2015 it was announced that China will host the Winter Olympics. © Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP

Kazakhstan is candidate for hosting the World Cup Football in 2026. The human rights record of the country is poor. Beautiful words cover up bad practices: Kazakhstan “will not rest until torture is completely eliminated”, the government announced. But torture is still taking place. The freedom of expression, association and assembly are restricted. Peaceful protesters are arrested, independent organizations are obstructed in their work, newspapers are forbidden, and social media are blocked. A law that bans propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations – read: homosexuality – is ready to be signed by the President.

When the host for the World Cup will be chosen is yet unknown.

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