Kozlov: Home country of La Marseillaise may not support dictatorships
The leader of Kazakhstan’s biggest opposition party, Vladimir Kozlov, wrote a letter to the President and Prime Minister of the French Republic, Francois Hollande and Manuel Valls concerning Mukhtar Ablyazov. Kozlov introduces himself as a political prisoner and a close associate of Ablyazov and expresses his concern over the decision to extradite the dissident taken by the French court. He straightforwardly calls Russia and Kazakhstan dictatorships and appeals to the French authorities for them to take account of the authoritarian character of these regimes.
Kozlov points out that both Russia and Kazakhstan are post-Soviet, authoritarian and corrupted political regimes and argues that it is actually the Kazakh authorities who are behind the extradition request made by Moscow. “Russia has launched a fratricidal war in Ukraine and killed Boris Nemtsov. Kazakhstan shot Zhanaozen workers and killed Rakhat Aliyev, and is soon to receive from the hands of France, with Russia's mediation, its main political opponent - Mukhtar Ablyazov.” Kozlov writes.
In his letter, the Alga! party leader also emphasised the role Ablyazov had played in the fight for a democratic Kazakhstan. He listed the methods Akorda avails itself of fighting against the former President of BTA Bank. Thanks to the support from international human rights organisations, deputies to the European Parliament and the media, the extradition of Ablyazov’s associates, Muratbek Ketebayev and Aleksandr Pavlov were halted. Also due to these interventions Ablyazov’s wife, Alma Shalabayeva and daughter, Alua, returned to Italy, after having been unlawfully deported Kazakhstan in May 2013.
In his letter, Kozlov openly labels Russia and Kazakhstan dictatorships in which human rights and the independent administration of justice function only on paper at best. A glaring example is the arrest of Kozlov himself, for that matter. Ablyazov is persecuted for the same reasons. Kozlov has no doubt that extradition to Russia will doom the dissident to torture and persecution. In conclusion, he refers to French freedom traditions: In the homeland of ‘La Marseillaise’, people should not join in with the false chants of corrupt dictatorships, Kozlov writes and pleads that Ablyazov be given a chance for a defence in the conditions of civilised and fair administration of justice.
The President of France Francois Hollande
The Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls
In the homeland of ‘La Marseillaise’ people do not sing in unison with dictators!
Dear Sirs!
My name is Vladimir Kozlov. I'm a political prisoner of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a friend and associate of Mukhtar Ablyazov. I address you as the decision of the court of France to render Mukhtar Ablyazov to Russia causes me to feel somewhat perplexed and anxious.
The obvious and logical collapse of the post-Soviet authoritarian corrupt political systems represented by Russia and Kazakhstan and for the benefit of which, Russia is seeking the extradition of Ablyazov, is apparent.
Stagnation of these systems of power more and more frequently leads to uncontrolled manifestations of what they usually try to conceal, and that is the essence of their nature - a demonstration of extreme intolerance and aggression against political dissent. Russia has launched a fratricidal war in Ukraine and killed Boris Nemtsov. Kazakhstan shot Zhanaozen workers and killed Rakhat Aliyev, and is soon to receive from the hands of France, with Russia's mediation, its main political opponent - Mukhtar Ablyazov.
Since 2001, Mukhtar Ablyazov has fought for freedom and democracy in Kazakhstan. Because of this, he was thrown in jail in 2002. That is why, at that time, he was recognised as a political prisoner and was subsequently granted political asylum in Great Britain.
In their pursuit of Mukhtar Ablyazov, the Kazakh authorities are using criminal methods: let us remind ourselves of the kidnapping of his family in Italy; the attempted rendering to Kazakhstan his associates Alexander Pavlov and Muratbek Ketebayev from Spain. It was only due to the resonant interference by international human rights organisations, parliamentarians of European countries and the independent media that Ablyazov’s family were given an opportunity to return to Italy, where they have been granted political asylum, and that Alexander Pavlov and Muratbek Ketebaev were not rendered to Kazakhstan.
Russia and Kazakhstan today are dictatorships in which human rights and fair justice exist only on paper. Kazakh ‘justice’ threw me in jail for my beliefs and pressure is still being exerted on me, even here, behind bars. Mukhtar Ablyazov is accused of the same political ‘crimes’ that I was accused of. By extraditing him to Russia, you doom him to harassment, torture, humiliation, injustice, and possibly, physical elimination.
Please stop it!
In the homeland of ‘La Marseillaise’, people should not join in with the false chants of corrupt dictatorships. Mukhtar Ablyazov should have an opportunity to defend himself under the circumstances of civilised, independent and fair justice.
I hope that you heed my words.
Vladimir Kozlov
27 March, 2015, the LA 155\14 penal colony
- Download Vladimir Kozlov’s letter addressed to Francois Hollande and Manuel Valls (RU)
- Download Vladimir Kozlov’s letter addressed to Francois Hollande and Manuel Valls (EN)
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