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Society

Sentence against Azimzhan Askarov outrages international human rights defenders

Several international human rights organizations expressed outrage at the verdict of Chui Regional Court which upheld the life sentence to Azimzhan Askarov in Kyrgyzstan.

Amnesty International in its statement urged to immediately and unconditionally release the human rights defender and provide adequate compensation.

"Kyrgyzstani justice suffered a major blow. In deciding not to release Azimzhan Askarov, the regional court has brazenly disregarded the country's international human rights obligations," Amnesty International's Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia, Denis Krivosheev said.

Committee to Protect Journalists called on to release the human rights defender and drop all charges against him.

"We are appalled by the verdict to uphold Azimzhan Askarov's sentence to life in prison," CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon said. "Askarov should not have spent a day behind bars for reporting on human rights violations, yet more than six years after his unjust imprisonment, he continues to be held on patently political charges."

Human Rights Watch believes that the court decision dated January 24, 2017 reinforces a severe miscarriage of justice in Kyrgyzstan.

"Azimzhan Askarov should be released immediately," Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch said. "Kyrgyzstan cannot in one breath say it seeks to uphold human rights, and then in the next, dismiss such basic international legal norms as fair trial, arbitrary detention, and the prohibition on torture."

International Partnership for Human Rights expressed regret at the failure in the attempt to secure justice for the human rights activist Azimzhan Askarov in Kyrgyzstan.

"It is extremely concerning that the court did not use retrial of the case as an opportunity to correct the unjust decision against Azimzhan Askarov," director of IPHR Brigitte Dufour said.  "It is extremely important that the international community continues to insist on justice for Askarov in accordance with the conclusions of the UN Human Rights Committee in his case."

The day before, Chui Regional Court upheld the initial sentence, recognizing Azimzhan Askarov guilty on several charges including complicity in murder, incitement of interethnic hatred and hostage-taking in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010.