{"change_dates":[],"dossier":{"amendments":[],"changes":{"2014-11-09T22:19:44":[{"data":[{"body":"EP","date":"2013-04-18T00:00:00","docs":[{"title":"Results of vote in Parliament","type":"Results of vote in Parliament","url":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=22881&l=en"},{"title":"Debate in Parliament","type":"Debate in Parliament","url":"http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20130418&type=CRE"},{"text":["
The European Parliament adopted by 39 votes to 1 with\n2 abstentions a resolution on the human rights situation in\nKazakhstan.
\nThe resolution was tabled by the Greens/EFA, EPP,\nS&D, ECR and ALDE groups.
\nIt strongly criticises the Almaty District\nCourts decision on 21 December 2012 to ban the unregistered\nopposition party Alga! on charges of extremism and also\ncriticises the subsequent ban on 25 December 2012 on key\nindependent media actors including eight Kazakh newspapers and 23\nweb news portals..
\nThe resolution reiterates concern over the detentions\nof opposition leaders, journalists and lawyers on the basis of\ntrials that fall short of international standards. Parliament calls\non the EU and Member States to seek guarantees that protect\njournalists, opposition activists and human rights defenders,\nand in particular those visiting the EU institutions to discuss\nhuman rights issues, against any kind of subsequent personal\nthreats, pressures or prosecution. The EEAS is asked to closely\nmonitor developments in Kazakhstan, raise concerns with the\nKazakh authorities where necessary, offer assistance, and report\nregularly to Parliament. Parliament also calls on the EU delegation\nin Astana to play a more proactive role, including observating\ntrials and prison visits.
\nWelcoming the dialogue between the Kazakh authorities\nand the Venice Commission in March 2013 on the new Code of\nCriminal Procedure, Parliament stresses that the reform should\naim at strengthening the independence of the judiciary and the rule\nof law. Members call on EEAS to monitor the reform, particularly of\nArticle 164 on inciting social discord, a vague charge\nthat can be used to criminalise legitimate exercise of the rights\nof freedom of expression.
\nThe resolution stresses that Kazakhstan is an\nincreasingly important international partner and is of the\nutmost importance for the political and socio-economic development,\nas well as the security situation, of the whole region. The EU has\na vital interest in stepping up political, economic and security\ncooperation with that region, be it with regard to cooperation with\nNATO, support for the E3+3 talks with Iran, or the establishment of\nan international fuel bank in Kazakhstan. Whilst welcoming\nKazakhstan's ambition to engage actively as a mediator in\ninternational security issues concerning the wider region, Members\nurge the Kazakhstan to:
\n\n· \nhonour its international commitments, including\nthose relating to the rule of law and the independence of the\njudiciary.
\n\n· \ncreate a climate where opposition activists,\njournalists and lawyers can freely exercise their\nactivities;
\n\n· \nguarantee detention conditions that conform to\ninternational standards and allow adequate medical treatment for\nprisoners, including the opposition leader Vladimir\nKozlov;
\n\n· \nease restrictions on the registration and\npractice of religion.
\nLastly, Parliament stresses that the human rights\ndialogues between the EU and the Kazakh authorities should be\neffective and results-oriented, and should involve civil-society\nactors where possible.
\nThe European Parliament adopted by 39 votes to 1 with\n2 abstentions a resolution on the human rights situation in\nKazakhstan.
\nThe resolution was tabled by the Greens/EFA, EPP,\nS&D, ECR and ALDE groups.
\nIt strongly criticises the Almaty District\nCourts decision on 21 December 2012 to ban the unregistered\nopposition party Alga! on charges of extremism and also\ncriticises the subsequent ban on 25 December 2012 on key\nindependent media actors including eight Kazakh newspapers and 23\nweb news portals..
\nThe resolution reiterates concern over the detentions\nof opposition leaders, journalists and lawyers on the basis of\ntrials that fall short of international standards. Parliament calls\non the EU and Member States to seek guarantees that protect\njournalists, opposition activists and human rights defenders,\nand in particular those visiting the EU institutions to discuss\nhuman rights issues, against any kind of subsequent personal\nthreats, pressures or prosecution. The EEAS is asked to closely\nmonitor developments in Kazakhstan, raise concerns with the\nKazakh authorities where necessary, offer assistance, and report\nregularly to Parliament. Parliament also calls on the EU delegation\nin Astana to play a more proactive role, including observating\ntrials and prison visits.
\nWelcoming the dialogue between the Kazakh authorities\nand the Venice Commission in March 2013 on the new Code of\nCriminal Procedure, Parliament stresses that the reform should\naim at strengthening the independence of the judiciary and the rule\nof law. Members call on EEAS to monitor the reform, particularly of\nArticle 164 on inciting social discord, a vague charge\nthat can be used to criminalise legitimate exercise of the rights\nof freedom of expression.
\nThe resolution stresses that Kazakhstan is an\nincreasingly important international partner and is of the\nutmost importance for the political and socio-economic development,\nas well as the security situation, of the whole region. The EU has\na vital interest in stepping up political, economic and security\ncooperation with that region, be it with regard to cooperation with\nNATO, support for the E3+3 talks with Iran, or the establishment of\nan international fuel bank in Kazakhstan. Whilst welcoming\nKazakhstan's ambition to engage actively as a mediator in\ninternational security issues concerning the wider region, Members\nurge the Kazakhstan to:
\n\n· \nhonour its international commitments, including\nthose relating to the rule of law and the independence of the\njudiciary.
\n\n· \ncreate a climate where opposition activists,\njournalists and lawyers can freely exercise their\nactivities;
\n\n· \nguarantee detention conditions that conform to\ninternational standards and allow adequate medical treatment for\nprisoners, including the opposition leader Vladimir\nKozlov;
\n\n· \nease restrictions on the registration and\npractice of religion.
\nLastly, Parliament stresses that the human rights\ndialogues between the EU and the Kazakh authorities should be\neffective and results-oriented, and should involve civil-society\nactors where possible.
\n