Last Thursday, 10 March the European Parliament discussed “Freedom of Expression in Kazakhstan”. It was one of the urgent human rights issues discussed regularly at its plenary sessions in Strasbourg. MEPS of the European United Left Group (GUE/NGL) put forward a number of amendments to a joint resolution which was negotiated and agreed by 7 of the 8 political groups represented in the European Parliament. One of the amendments, carried by a broad majority of 483 votes in favour, 145 against and 25 abstentions, condemns the treatment of three well-known political prisoners.
It says that it is “deeply worried about the disrespect and violation of prisoners’ rights in Kazakhstan’s prison system; is concerned about the physical and mental well-being of prisoners Vladimir Kozlov, Vadim Kuramshin (who won the Ludovic Trarieux International Human Rights Prize 2013) and Aron Atabek, who have been convicted on political grounds, and demands that they receive immediate access to necessary medical treatment and are allowed regular visits, including by family members, legal representatives and representatives of human rights and prisoners’ rights organisations”.
Campaign Kazakhstan is calling for Trade union and socialist activists internationally to follow up on this decision with resolutions and letters of protest. Below is suggested wording for protest.
We wholeheartedly agree with the European Parliament’s recent condemnation of the abysmal treatment of political prisoners in Kazakhstan which got the support of 483 MEPs. We support, in particular, their call for the basic rights of Vladimir Kozlov, Vadim Kuramshin and Aron Atabek to be honoured. This must include “immediate access to all necessary medical treatment” and “regular visits, including by family members, legal representatives and representatives of human rights and prisoners’ rights organisations”. In addition, we believe that these fighters should be immediately released from detention without conditions – free to exercise their rights to actively participate in the struggle for democratic and human rights and political, social and artistic freedom in Kazakhstan.
Addresses of embassies and consulates for protests can be found here.
Addresses for personal letters (written in any language) are:-
- Vladimir Kozlov, Penal Colony LA 155/14, Almaty Province, Illiysky District, Zarechnyy Village, Kazakhstan 040805
- Vadim Kuramshin, Department С-164/4, Gorny Prospekt (Jaman Sopka), Yesilsky District, SКО, Kazakhstan 150506
- Аron Edigeev (Atabek), Department AP-162/1, Tsiolkovsky Street b/n, Pavlodar, Kazakhstan 140000