Press Releases
Statement By The U.S. Embassy In Astana
October 22, 2009
The United States Embassy in Astana notes with concern that on October 20 the Almaty Oblast Court in the city of Taldy-Qorghan upheld the vehicular manslaughter conviction and sentencing to four years of imprisonment of Yevgeniy Zhovtis, head of the non-governmental organization, Human Rights Bureau. After the original trial in September, there were credible allegations of procedural flaws in that trial, and the appeal hearing failed to address those concerns.
We urge the government of Kazakhstan to pursue the upcoming procedural review of the case fully in accord with Kazakhstani law and its commitment to international judicial standards.
