HRW Supports Jailed Kazakh Opposition Leader

Influential international organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) published a statement in support of Vladimir Kozlov, a leader of the Kazakhstan opposition who was sentenced to 7.5 years of imprisonment on "inciting social discord" charges. The sentence strikes a blow to freedom of expression and pluralism of political voices in Kazakhstan, HRW said. On October 8, 2012, the Aktau City Court in western Kazakhstan found Kozlov, 52, head of the unregistered opposition political party Alga!, guilty of “inciting social discord,” “calling for the forcible overthrow of the constitutional order,” and “creating and leading an organized group with the aim of committing one or more crimes.” The conviction followed an investigation shrouded in secrecy and an unfair trial, according to HRW. The charges relate to Kozlov’s alleged role in violent clashes that took place in western Kazakhstan in December 2011 following extended labor strikes. Kozlov maintains his innocence and intends to appeal the verdict.

http://www.hrw.org/news/2012/10/09/kazakhstan-opposition-leader-jailed
http://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2012/10/09/n_2563649.shtml