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Press release
OSCE observers visit detained Kazakh opposition journalist
- Date:
- Place:
- WARSAW
- Source:
- OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE Programme Office in Astana
- Fields of work:
- Media freedom and development, Human rights
WARSAW, 19 December 2002 - A group of observers from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Centre in Almaty yesterday met the opposition journalist, Sergey Duvanov, who is being held in pre-trial detention on charges of having raped a minor.
The visit was made in order to assess the conditions of his detention and the investigation process.
"We found the detention conditions are generally satisfactory," said Steven Wagenseil, the ODIHR's Acting Director, who led the observer team. "However, we are concerned about troubling complaints that Mr. Duvanov's legal representatives have not been provided with sufficient time to read the files or review the evidence gathered by the state investigative bodies."
The ODIHR called on the authorities to adequately address these concerns as soon as possible.
During a recent visit to Brussels, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev, voiced his view that Mr. Duvanov was guilty of the current charges. The ODIHR Acting Director cautioned yesterday that "the burden of proof of guilt rests squarely on the authorities' shoulders and justice requires that the authorities provide sufficient conditions for a vigorous defence."
Before these charges were levelled, Mr. Duvanov had faced other problems with government authorities, including a criminal case brought for having reportedly insulted the honour and dignity of the President in spring 2002.
The visit was made in order to assess the conditions of his detention and the investigation process.
"We found the detention conditions are generally satisfactory," said Steven Wagenseil, the ODIHR's Acting Director, who led the observer team. "However, we are concerned about troubling complaints that Mr. Duvanov's legal representatives have not been provided with sufficient time to read the files or review the evidence gathered by the state investigative bodies."
The ODIHR called on the authorities to adequately address these concerns as soon as possible.
During a recent visit to Brussels, the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbaev, voiced his view that Mr. Duvanov was guilty of the current charges. The ODIHR Acting Director cautioned yesterday that "the burden of proof of guilt rests squarely on the authorities' shoulders and justice requires that the authorities provide sufficient conditions for a vigorous defence."
Before these charges were levelled, Mr. Duvanov had faced other problems with government authorities, including a criminal case brought for having reportedly insulted the honour and dignity of the President in spring 2002.
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