Here’s a good New Year’s resolution: help a human rights activist
Kazakhstan, Politics and SocietyNo Comment
Editor’s note: This is a translation of Klavdia Razina’s post (RUS). Click here to read more about the Zhovtis case.
Early this December, Geneva hosted a meeting of the “Eurasia-IDEA” international civic cooperation network. The meeting included a solidarity event for noted human rights activist Yevgenii Zhovtis.
Zhovtis’ controversial case once again shed light on how Kazakhstan’s judicial system functions. In the course of the investigation, trial, sentencing, appeal and incarceration in a correction colony, an independent panel of experts found over 50 errors and procedural violations.
The facts are as follows: an accident took place; a pedestrian standing in the road (the speed limit is 100 km/h) got hit and later died; the driver was sober, driving within the speed limit. This was used to make a criminal case and, in a two-day trial that violated the basic principles of judicial procedure, convict and sentence Zhovtis to four years in prison.
Event participants prepared and distributed about 200 postcards with the address of the correction colony in Ust-Kamenogorsk, where Zhovtis is being kept.
Евгений Жовтис
Казахстан
070019, ул. Астафьева 117/5
Yevgenii Zhovtis
Kazakhstan
070019 Ul. Astafyeva 117/5
The front of the postcard shows Yevgenii Zhovtis and the event slogan: “We Believe in JUSTICE and we will get it DONE.”
To show solidarity and support Yevgenii, please send a postcard (any design) to the address indicated earlier.
Human rights activist Yevgenii Zhovtis being escorted by a police officer. Image courtesy of RFE/RL. Click the image to read an RFE/RL story about trials of human rights activists throughout the region.
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