10/07/2018 (Agence Europe) – Following the illegal extradition of blogger Muratbek Tungishbayev, Laima Liucija Andrikienė (EPP, Lithuania), the vice-chair of the European Parliament's EU-Kazakhstan Delegation has expressed her concern about the violations of civil liberties in this country. She sent a letter to the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan on 5 July, condemning the crackdown on civil liberties and on peaceful assembly. "I underline the importance of abiding by the conditions set out in this important agreement", she said about the partnership and cooperation agreement signed in 2015 between the European Union and Kazakhstan (see EUROPE 11459). Andrikienė also called on the authorities of Kazakhstan to cease their intimidation, harassment and prosecutions of citizens, journalists and civil society activists, calling especially for the right of blogger Tungishbayev to regular proceedings to be guaranteed and for his immediate release. (CG, intern)