ODIHR director hails human rights advocate release in KazakhstanFebruary 1, 2012 - 22:23 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), welcomed the decision by a court in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Kazakhstan, to release human rights defender Yevgeniy Zhovtis, but expressed concern about the continuing clampdown on opposition activities in Kazakhstan in the wake of December’s violence in Zhanaozen and parliamentary elections held in January. “The decision to release Zhovtis is a positive step. But we are worried about the further tightening of the already substantial restrictions on fundamental freedoms that marked the recent parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan,” Lenarcic said. Lenarcic also urged the authorities to conduct full, transparent and independent investigations into the Zhanaozen events and allegations of irregularities during the recent parliamentary elections, The OSCE said in a press release. Zhovtis, a member of the ODIHR Panel of Experts on Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, was convicted in September 2009 to four years in prison for his involvement in a car accident that led to the death of a pedestrian. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia warns Armenia against “falling into West’s trap” Zakharova maintained, however, that anything that will benefit the people of Armenia can only be welcomed. CSTO: Armenia has not participated in secretariat’s work recently Recently Armenia has not participated in the work of the secretariat of the CSTO, Imangali Tasmagambetov said. Meeting with U.S., EU not against third parties, says Armenia The meeting scheduled for April 5 is dedicated to strengthening of the Armenia-EU-US cooperation, Yerevan added. Ucom launches network modernization efforts in few regions of Armenia In particular, on March 28, the legacy Mobile Switching Subsystem will be replaced with a new one. |