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OSCE Agency Expresses Regret Over Death of Kyrgyz Human Rights Defender

VOA News

   The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Office for
   Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has expressed its regret over
   Saturday's death of Kyrgyz human rights defender Azimjan Askarov in
   prison.

   "Today, we grieve together with Azimjan's family and all who knew him,"
   the organization [1]said in a statement.

   Askarov, a long-standing partner of ODIHR, had for many years prior to
   his arrest, documented "police abuse and brutality in his native
   Kyrgyzstan," the statement said.

   The office had been calling for Askarov's release since he was first
   arrested in 2010.

   ODIHR and many other observers of his trials in 2010 and 2011, had
   noted serious violations of "fair trial standards and the failure of
   the authorities to address the intimidation of defense witnesses and
   lawyers or follow up on visible signs of torture," the statement said.

   Just two months ago, [2]ODIHR objectedthe decision of Kyrgyzstan's
   Supreme Court to uphold the life sentence imposed on Askarov in 2010.

   "It is unfortunate that the Kyrgyz authorities did not use the
   opportunity open to them to restore justice," ODIHR said.

   ODIHR Director Ingibjörg Sólrún GÃsladóttir had said in a statement
   in May: "I call on the authorities of Kyrgyzstan to implement the UN
   Human Rights Committee decision and free Mr. Askarov, in line with the
   country's international human rights obligations."'¯'¯'¯

References

   1. https://www.osce.org/odihr/458071
   2. https://www.osce.org/odihr/452260

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