Prominent Kazakh rights defender granted parole after six years in prison
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 1 August 2018 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Prominent Kazakh rights defender granted parole after six years in prison, 1 August 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5bc051d5a.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 01, 2018 09:17 GMT
By RFE/RL's Kazakh Service
Vadim Kuramshin in 2012
Prominent Kazakh human rights activist Vadim Kuramshin has been granted early release on parole after serving more than 6 1/2 years in prison on extortion charges that his supporters said were politically motivated.
A lawyer for Kuramshin, Muratbek Irge, told RFE/RL that a court in the northeastern city of Oskemen agreed on August 1 to parole Kuramshin.
He will be released in 15 days if the ruling is not appealed and overturned, Irge said.
Kuramshin has become known for his efforts to raise awareness of violations of inmates' rights in Kazakh penitentiaries, including the one where he served his term.
He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2012 on an extortion conviction. He denies wrongdoing.
In December 2013, while behind bars, Kuramshin was awarded the prestigious Ludovic-Trarieux international human rights prize.
The first Ludovic-Trarieux prize was awarded to South Africa's Nelson Mandela in 1985, during his imprisonment.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
