Re: Feliks Kulov

President Askar Akaev
Republic of Kyrgyzstan
VIA FAX: +996 312 218 627

October 29, 2004

Dear Mr. Akaev:

The International League for Human Rights is deeply concerned about continuous denial of conditional release to former vice president and national security chief, Feliks Kulov, who is currently the head of the opposition Ar-Namys Party. Kulov’s arrest is widely regarded as politically motivated.

On January 22, 2001, a military court, which was closed to the public, sentenced Feliks Kulov to seven years of imprisonment, convicting him of abuse of power when he was minister of national security in 1997-1998. The sentence was delivered despite his acquittal of the same charges in August 2000. On May 8, 2002, the Pervomai District Court of Bishkek sentenced Feliks Kulov and his co-defendant Alexander Gasanov to ten and six years in prison respectively, with confiscation of property. Both Kulov and Gasanov were convicted of embezzlement in 1993-97, when Kulov was governor of the Chui Province and Gasanov was manager of a construction company in the province. The court then followed articles 59-60 of Kyrgyzstan’s Criminal Code, combining the two sentences for a total of 10 years.

According to Kyrgyz ombudsman Tursunbai Bakir-Uulu, Kulov was eligible for release as early as August 5, 2004. The Sokuluk District Court, however, denied Feliks Kulov parole on August 13, failing to take into account the time Kulov spent incarcerated in the detention center under the auspices of the Ministry of National Security from March 22, 2000 until August 7, 2000; and from January 22, 2001 until July 26, 2001.

On August 23, 2004, head of Kyrgyzstan’s penitentiary department, Vladimir Nosov, said at a press conference that Kulov will only be subject to parole after November 12, 2005, which would prevent Kulov from being at liberty in the run-up to the presidential election in October 2005. Kulov’s continued incarceration violates Kyrgyzstan’s obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights to desist from arbitrary detention. Recognizing your repeated promise to ensure the presidential elections are conducted in a constitutional manner, we urge you to grant immediate conditional release to Mr. Kulov.

We also urge you to stop persecuting political opposition and other persons disagreeing with your policies and create an equal playing field in the run-up to the presidential elections.

Thank you for your attention to this letter. We welcome your response.


Sincerely,

Louise Kantrow
Executive Director
International League for Human Rights