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OSCE Centre in Almaty rejects allegations over Duvanov case
ALMATY 19 March 2003
ALMATY, 19 March 2003 - The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Centre in Almaty rejected allegations that OSCE representatives had referred to evidence that Kazakh journalist and human rights activist Sergei Duvanov was "guilty of rape".
On 11 March, a press release from the Office of Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan commented on Mr. Duvanov's case, in connection with a hearing in the Appellate Panel of the Almaty Regional Court.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty considers that the press release misrepresents the facts. It says that many representatives (i.e., international observers) came to the conclusion that Duvanov was guilty of having raped an under-aged girl and that they had left the courtroom before the verdict was handed down.
In fact, the majority of international observers regularly attended the hearings in the court of first instance. The observers, including the representative of the OSCE Centre, were present in the courtroom until the completion of the trial on the day the verdict was passed.
Neither the OSCE Centre in Almaty nor any other OSCE institution have ever made any statements on "the evidence of Mr. Duvanov's guilt of rape".
On 11 March, a press release from the Office of Prosecutor General of the Republic of Kazakhstan commented on Mr. Duvanov's case, in connection with a hearing in the Appellate Panel of the Almaty Regional Court.
The OSCE Centre in Almaty considers that the press release misrepresents the facts. It says that many representatives (i.e., international observers) came to the conclusion that Duvanov was guilty of having raped an under-aged girl and that they had left the courtroom before the verdict was handed down.
In fact, the majority of international observers regularly attended the hearings in the court of first instance. The observers, including the representative of the OSCE Centre, were present in the courtroom until the completion of the trial on the day the verdict was passed.
Neither the OSCE Centre in Almaty nor any other OSCE institution have ever made any statements on "the evidence of Mr. Duvanov's guilt of rape".