EU statement on the case against human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis
As indicated at last week's meeting of the Permanent Council, the EU would like to return to the case of Kazakh human rights defender Evgeniy Zhovtis. The EU recalls its strong concern with procedural violations during the trial and appeals procedures
conducted last year, expressed inter alia in statements to the Permanent Council on September 10, October 22 and December 17, 2009.
The EU continues to attach strong importance to Mr. Zhovtis' right to a fair trial being upheld in line with Kazakhstan's national legislation as well as international mmitments and obligations, which should carry particular weight during Kazakhstan's OSCE
Chairmanship this year.
The EU thanks the delegation of Kazakhstan for the information provided to the Permanent Council last week on the decision of the Supreme Court not to initiate review proceedings in the case.
Spanish Presidency of the European Union
OSCE Permanent Council No. 808
Vienna, 6 May 2010
PC.DEL/368/10
6 May 2010
ENGLISH only
The EU regrets that procedural violations of the lower courts have not yet been reviewed and remedied and hopes that this will proceed in the near future. The EU has noted that Mr. Zhovtis still has the option of personal appeals to the Supreme Court or the Office of the Prosecutor General. We will continue to follow closely further developments in the case in the light of the significance we place on our shared commitments, including as regards due process, fair trial and other human rights.
Los paises candidatos CROACIA* y la ANTIGUA REPUBLICA
YUGOSLAVA DE MACEDONIA*, los paises del Proceso de Estabilizacion y
Asociacion y los paises candidatos potenciales, ALBANIA, BOSNIA Y
HERZEGOVINA, MONTENEGRO y SERBIA, los paises de la Asociacion
Europea de Libre Comercio y los miembros del Espacio Economico
Europeo, ISLANDIA y NORUEGA se suman a esta declaracion.
*Croacia y la Antigua Republica Yugoslava de Macedonia siguen
perteneciendo al proceso de Estabilizacion y Asociacion.