(WiPC/IFEX) – An appeal against Sergei Duvanov’s sentence will be heard on 11 March 2003. Duvanov, a Kazakh journalist renowned for his articles alleging government corruption, is serving a three and a half year sentence on charges of “rape of a minor”. The WiPC of International PEN shares the concern of other free expression and […]
(WiPC/IFEX) – An appeal against Sergei Duvanov’s sentence will be heard on 11 March 2003. Duvanov, a Kazakh journalist renowned for his articles alleging government corruption, is serving a three and a half year sentence on charges of “rape of a minor”. The WiPC of International PEN shares the concern of other free expression and human rights groups that the accusations of rape against Duvanov could have been fabricated and that he may be penalised for his writings alleging bribery and extortion at the highest levels of the Kazakh government.
The Eurasianet website reports that support for Duvanov has come from an unexpected quarter, Dariga Nazarbayeva, President Nursultan Nazarbayev’s daughter. In a 31 January press statement, speaking in her capacity as head of the Public Defence Foundation, Nazarbayeva stated, “The procedural violations that international experts have been pointing to makes one wonder whether [Duvanov’s] case has been politically motivated.” She added that, “[Duvanov] has exerted a lot of effort to discredit my family and relatives, not only in Kazakhstan but also in the eyes of the world community. But that is his right.” Nazarbayeva was careful to make it clear that she believed her father had played no role in Duvanov’s arrest, saying that the president did not feel threatened by the press. “I am confident that the president was not in need of such defenders [in the summer of 2002, when Duvanov published articles critical of the president] and neither is he now,” Nazarbayeva stated.
For further information on Nazarbayeva’s speech, see: www.eurasianet.org
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– expressing concern that the charges against Duvanov may have been fabricated
Appeals To
H. E. Nursultan Abishevich Nazarbayev
President
Office of the President
11 Mira Street
473000 Astana, Aqmola Oblysy
Kazakhstan
Fax: + 43 1 367 917 533 (c/o Kazakhstan Embassy in Austria)
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
