Human rights activists are concerned about the serious deterioration in the state of health of the convicted Azimzhan Askarov and urge the state to release him on humanitarian grounds.
Июл 11.2020According to the reliable data we have, human rights activist Azimzhan Askarov, who is serving a life sentence in Institution No. 19 of the State Penitentiary Service under the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, got seriously ill.
To recap, the Kyrgyz authorities ignored the Views of the UN Human Rights Committee dated 31 March 2016 regarding the immediate release of Azimzhan Askarov.
The trials on his case once again demonstrated the Kyrgyz authorities’ unwillingness to adhere to international fair trial standards. It was noted by international observers and such an authoritative organization as the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ).
Azimzhan Askarov will soon turn 70. He suffers from numerous diseases, which is exacerbated by torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment that he suffered in 2010, as was stated in the Committee's Views.
The last visit to him, before the pandemic, showed that he had lost a lot of weight. A. Askarov explained that his feet are very cold, he can’t do anything about it, socks, shoes and warming do not help. He cannot stand for a long period of time, he sees dots before his eyes and feels dizzy. He can’t sleep, he suffers from coughing and nightmares and usually wakes up at 4 a.m. Sometimes his body temperature rises and falls sharply, and he begins to sweat. It is hard for him to breathe, he has a chest pain.
The correction and re-socialization of convicts, the conditions for the execution and serving of sentences in the state do not comply with generally recognized principles and norms of international law, which is an integral part of the penal enforcement legislation of Kyrgyzstan. The authorities of Kyrgyzstan acknowledge this as well.
However, whereas convicts are released from prisons around the world due to coronavirus disease, the authorities of Kyrgyzstan do not take any measures.
Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan calls on the authorities to pay close attention to the fate of prisoners with special needs. They should have an alternative and the right of access to health care and the right to life. By virtue of article 21 of the Constitution, everyone has the inalienable right to life. And in the Preamble of the Constitution the principle is enshrined of commitment of the state to the highest values, such as life and human health and the inalienable right of a person to life. Respect for elders is enshrined in part 2 of Article 37 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic. Elderly people should not be in places of detention.
Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan requests the country's top leadership to show the political will and humanity, to release prisoners with special needs, including Azimzhan Askarov, which will show the state’s commitment to fulfill its obligations under international human rights treaties, the purpose of which is to build a free and independent democratic state treating a person, his/her life, health, rights and freedoms as the highest values.
We look forward to positive changes related to protecting the rights of prisoners in closed institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic and high standards of humanity and justice!
For further information, please, contact the lawyer V.A. Vakhitov, mobile: + 996 703 407 293.
HRM “Bir Duino-Kyrgyzstan” PA
10 July 2020
Bishkek
Contacts: + 996 (312) 66 57 21
Web site: http://birduino.kg
E-mail: birduinokyrgyzstan@gmail.com