Kazakhstani human rights defender Zhovtis released
Yevgeni Zhovtis is free again. The authorities of Kazakhstan have decided to release the human rights defender earlier. Zhovtis has been imprisoned since Autumn 2009 on basis of a political trial and would have completed his prison term in 2013.
Unfair trial
On September 4th 2009 Yevgeni Zhovtis was convicted to four years of penal colony for “vehicular manslaughter” because of a lethal car accident in July 2009. Human rights activists from all over the world, and also Hivos, are convinced that this was
a politically motivated and unfair trial, to punish Zhovtis for his years of human rights defence work and criticism at the government. International and national protests had no effect. Zhovtis is generally considered a political prisoner.
Prominent activist
Since the early nineties already, Yevgeni Zhovtis is one of the most prominent and influential human rights defenders in Kazakhstan. He is director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (KIBHR), from 2000 until 2009 a partner organisation of Hivos. In addition, he was active in many other functions, both in Kazakhstan and internationally. Hivos has been cooperating with Zhovtis since 1993.
Awards
Yevgeni Zhovtis has been rewarded several times for his human rights defence work. In October 2011 he received the “
For Courage in the Fight For Freedom" Award 2011, given to him in absentia at the One World Kyrgyzstan international film festival in Bishkek. That film festival was organised by Human Rights Centre ‘Citizens Against Corruption’, with support from Hivos. Prior to that, he was rewarded with the USA and European Union Democracy and Civil Society Award (1998), the International League for Human Rights Award (1999), the International Helsinki Federation Recognition Award (2005), the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Human Rights Award (2007), and the Norwegian Helsinki Committee Sakharov Freedom Award (2010).
Hivos is very happy with this news and congratulates Yevgeni Zhovtis, his family and the staff of KIBHR with his release.
Read fmore.
Kazakhstan: Jailed Human Rights Defender Amnestied (or in
Rushian)
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