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press release |
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CALL FOR ACTIONBy IFN11 October 2005 Political Prisoner in Kazakhstan Faces Pressure Ahead of Due Conditional Release
Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, an opposition leader and co-founder of the pro-reform movement “Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan” in 2001, is currently serving his seven-year sentence in a low-security colony in Shiderty near Pavlodar. He was imprisoned for alleged abuse of office in a trial in 2002, widely regarded as unfair and politically motivated. Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations called him political prisoner. The European Parliament nominated Mr. Zhakiyanov for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought 2003. The united opposition movement “For a Just Kazakhstan” has repeatedly called for his release. Series of rallies were held in support of Zhakiyanov in Kazakhstan. On 15 September 2004, the office of President Nazarbayev received 1,012,000 signatures from citizens of Kazakhstan demanding to release Galymzhan Zhakiyanov. According to numerous reports, Zhakiyanov is ill-treated by the prison’s administration and denied medical treatment; the authorities are imposing pressure on him, forcing Zhakiyanov to give up political activity in exchange for freedom. Meanwhile, according to the Kazakh law, he may be conditionally released in early October of 2005. In 2003 and 2004, several new criminal investigations were launched against G. Zhakiyanov in order to extend his term of imprisonment. When the investigators had failed to collect evidence sufficient for indictment, the prison’s administration took over and started accusing Zhakiyanov of violating internal prison rules, which might result in the denial of early release. Most of the “violations” were, in fact, staged by the prison administration itself [see reports of the www.zhakiyanov.info/eng website]. Obviously, the Kazakh government is reluctant to release the popular opposition leader on the eve of presidential elections of December 4, 2005, and in doing so, they are violating Zhakiyanov’s right to conditional release in early October. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, Russian, Kazakh or your own language, urging the Kazakh authorities to follow the Constitutional norm of equality of all citizens of Kazakhstan before the law and to ensure conditional release of political prisoner Galymzhan Zhakiyanov. APPEALS TO: President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan NAZARBAYEV ul. Beybitshilik 11 473000 Astana Kazakhstan Fax: +7 3172 32 40 89 and copies to diplomatic representatives of Kazakhstan accredited to your country (the list can be found at http://www.mfa.kz/eng/index.php?base=3&article_id=23). Please include a copy to International Freedom Network for dissemination. FOR MORE INFORMATION: | |||
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