Between 29 April and 3 May 2020, human rights defender Yevgeniy Zhovtis was the target of anonline smear campaign in Kazakh media and on social media sites. The smear campaign waslaunched in response to his criticism of a new draft law as undermining freedom of assembly, andin particular his position on the right of non-nationals to participate in peaceful assemblies.Yevgeniy Zhovtis is a human rights defender and director of the Kazakhstan International Bureaufor Human Rights and Rule of Law and has been an outspoken critic of human rights violations inKazakhstan for the past 25 years. He is a member of the OSCE/ODIHR Panel of Experts onFreedom of Assembly and a Board Member of the International Bar Association Human RightsInstitute.On 7 February 2020, the Ministry of Information and Social Development of the Republic ofKazakhstan published the Concept of the Draft Law �On the Procedure for Organising and HoldingPeaceful Assemblies in the Republic of Kazakhstan�. On 11 February, Yevgeniy Zhovtis issued alegal analysis of the draft law, criticising its increased regulation of the right to assembly rather thanthe protection of such a right. In his analysis, the human rights defender highlighted the aspects ofthe draft law which did not comply with international standards on the subject of peacefulassembly, as outlined by international organizations. He also pointed to the elements of the draftlaw which contradicted the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights tofreedom of peaceful assembly and of association, issued following a visit to Kazakhstan in 2015. In partnership with human rights defender Bakhytzhan Toregozhina, Yevgeniy Zhovtis filed anappeal to the UN Special Rapporteur on 17 February. The appeal urges the Rapporteur to evaluatethe proposed draft law, and request the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan to draft a newlaw which would adhere to international standards and the recommendations of the SpecialRapporteur.Beginning 29 April, a series of posts and articles appeared on Kazakh social media and in themedia, accusing Yevgeniy Zhovtis of working in the interest of American, Russian and Chinesegovernments, in slanderous and insulting terms. Most of the publications categorically condemnedYevgeniy Zhovtis� position that non-nationals should have the right to assemble peacefully. Many ofthe social media posts condemning Yevgeniy Zhovtis seemed to originate from an article andFacebook post by Kazybek Isa, editor in chief of the newspaper Qazaquni and Deputy Head of thepolitical party Ak Zhol. Kazybek Isa is also a member of the National Council of Public Confidenceunder President Tokayev. On the same day, similar posts were published on social media sites by several other influentialmedia figures such as Arshat Oraz, the General Manager of the Kerek Media Group. SamatNurtaza, who Kazakh human rights defenders believe controls local ��internet troll factory�� alsocriticized Yevgeniy Zhovtis in social media posts. Over the next four days, these initial posts andarticles were re-posted by social media users and were used as the basis for further articles inother Kazakh media outlets, criticizing Yevgeniy Zhovtis. The posts and articles includedslanderous remarks about the human rights defender, describing him as ��Russian canned food��and an ��agent�� for Russia, a ��Trojan horse��, and accused him of ��dancing to the tune of those whofinance him��. Front Line Defenders is concerned regarding the impunity with which the public smear campaignagainst Yevgeniy Zhovtis was allowed to occur. It believes that this impunity can enable and fostera negative attitude towards human rights defenders, those who criticize the administration andthose who dissent. It is particularly concerned that the participation of political leaders andinfluential figures in Kazakh media may also serve to bolster such negative attitudes towardshuman rights defenders which can lead to attacks and violence against them. Front Line Defendersfears that the lack of condemnation of the smear campaign will create an environment in whichsimilar campaigns can be launched against other human rights defenders in Kazakhstan in thefuture and without consequence.Front Line Defenders considers the publication of these articles and social media posts as anorganized attempt to discredit Yevgeniy Zhovtis as a result of his legal analysis of the Concept ofthe Draft Law on the procedure for organizing and conducting peaceful assemblies in the Republicof Kazakhstan. It expresses concern regarding the hostility that Yevgeniy Zhovtis has experiencedand his psycho-social well-being as the victim of such humiliating and slanderous public attacks.Front Line Defenders believes that such hostility is a result of his peaceful and legitimate work as ahuman rights defender in Kazakhstan.