Catherine Ashton replied to the interpellation of MEPs
Polish MEPs: Marek Migalski and Piotr Borys filed an inquiry with the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. The subject of the inquiry was the use of Interpol's systems by non-democratic countries to persecute oppositionists and political dissidents residing in Europe.
Catherine Ashton responded to the inquiry of the Polish MEPs by informing them that the EU took note of the issues raised in the question and is closely following developments in the case of Alexandr Pavlov (former security chief of Mukhtar Ablyazov) and other dissidents. The EU and its Delegation in Astana continue to closely monitor this alongside other similar cases. The EU continues to use formal and informal opportunities to encourage Kazakhstan to respect its international obligations, in particular the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (together with its Optional Protocol), to which Kazakhstan is a party.
In response to the inquiry it was also stated that the European Union is raising and will continue to raise - consistently and at all levels - human rights issues in the political dialogue with Kazakhstan, in particular, within the framework of an annual dialogue on human rights.
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