Vienna, 30 October 2002
The Vienna South East Europe Media Organisation is asking a transparent and fast investigation connected to the case of Sergei Duvanov. Duvanov is editor in chief of the news bulletin Human rights in Kazakhstan and in the world, published by the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law (KIBHRL). Duvanov, writes also for opposition web sites.
Duvanov was arrested at his house and accused of raping a 14-year-old girl. The arrest occurred one day before he was going to visit the United States to speak about the human rights situation in his country.
On 28 August 2002 Duvanov was attacked near his home. On 9 July 2002, the General Prosecutor’s Office charged him with “infringing the honour and dignity of the Kazakhstan president”