Conviction of Kazakhstani Opposition Leader Galymzhan Zhakiyanov

The United States is concerned that the conviction on August 2 by a Kazakhstani municipal court of opposition politician Galymzhan Zhakiyanov to seven years in prison for abuse of power appears to be another case of Kazakhstani authorities selectively prosecuting political figures. Mr. Zhakiyanov has announced his decision to appeal the verdict to a higher court, and we hope his appeal will be accorded due process under Kazakhstani law. The U.S. Government will continue to follow this case closely.

Mr. Zhakiyanov is the second of two members of the Democratic Choice opposition movement to be tried and convicted of corruption in recent weeks. While both trials allowed observers to attend and the defendants to address the court directly, we believe the timing of the two arrests and the convictions raise serious concerns that they were politically motivated. We urge the Government of Kazakhstan to allow all political activists, who wish to work for peaceful change within Kazakhstan's constitutional system, to operate freely without fear of selective prosecution for their activities.

The U.S. believes that recent developments in Kazakhstan - - such as the new, restrictive legislation regarding political parties, and the ongoing harassment of opposition figures and the independent media - - pose a serious threat to the country's democratic process. We will continue to raise these concerns at the highest levels with the Government of Kazakhstan. As Secretary of State Powell said, the United States believes that "if we are really going to prevail over terrorism…we have to do it in a way that respects human dignity and the rights of men and women."