OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: DENIAL OF APPEAL OF

UNCLAS STATE 109026 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV OSCE KPAO PHUM PREL KZ SUBJECT: OSCE PERMANENT COUNCIL: DENIAL OF APPEAL OF YEVGENIY ZHOVTIS' CONVICTION ¶1. (U) Post is authorized to present the following statement at the October 21 Permanent Council meeting in Vienna. Begin text: Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. The United States notes with concern that on October 20 the Almaty Oblast Court upheld last month's troubling conviction and sentencing to four years incarceration of Yevgeniy Zhovtis. Serious allegations of procedural irregularities and apparent lack of due process left the impression that the trial was tainted and the appeal has not corrected this impression. We urge the Kazakhstani government to reassess the case consistent with Kazakhstani law and its commitment to international standards on rule of law. This case continues to be watched closely by the international community as Kazakhstan prepares to take over the chairmanship of the OSCE. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. CLINTON