Initially, it was assumed that the rally would be preceded by a march, as was the case last year, but the Almaty authorities refused to approve it, explaining this by repairing the street along which it could pass.

The rally began with a moment of silence for the victims of the January events. Another minute of silence was announced later during the rally – for women victims of violence.

Speakers at the rally note that politics in Kazakhstan remains inaccessible to women.

Human rights activist Tatyana Chernobyl notes during her speech that there should be at least half of women in the public administration system. “There are few women in politics, because the road there is closed,” she said.