Bota Jardemalie
Botagoz Jardemalie is a human rights lawyer and Kazakh refugee based in Belgium. In October 2019, Belgian police conducted a search at her home without a warrant, in response to a request for judicial cooperation from Kazakhstan. Despite being granted refugee status in Belgium, the search was authorized by the investigating judge. Jardemalie's case highlights the challenges faced by human rights defenders in authoritarian regimes. The International Observatory for Lawyers in Danger (OIAD) and the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) have expressed concern about her safety and urged authorities to respect her rights.
Session
Bota Jardemalie, a New York lawyer, Kazakh human rights defender, and Belgian political refugee, will delve into how anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) laws are increasingly misused by authoritarian regimes to perpetrate political repression and financially exclude their critics. She will also explore why activists worldwide are turning to peer-to-peer Bitcoin transactions, self-hosted wallets and privacy payment instruments as vital shields against oppression.