Brussels, 29/01/2001 (Agence Europe) - On 27 January, the Swedish Presidency made the following Statement: "The EUs concerned by the circumstances surrounding the recent trial of opposition party leader Felix Kulov. The trial was marred by indications that due process has not been observed and gives cause for grave concern. Mr. Kulov was sentenced to seven years in prison and confiscation of his property by a military court in Bishkek on 22 January 2001. His lawyers have appealed the court's latest verdict. The European Union urges the competent Kyrgyz authorities to assure that due transparent process is observed in the appeal case. Mr. Kulov had been acquitted and released in August 2000. But, the Board of the Kyrgyz Military Court decided to reconsider the case when Mr. Kulov announced that he would run in the Presidential elections, in which, however, he eventually did not participate. Mr. Kulov claims that charges against him were fabricated and have no substance. Unfortunately, the handling of the case by the Kyrgyz authorities nourished the suspicion that the case may be politically motivated. The EU has already expressed its concerns about recent court cases against Mr. Dyryldaev and Mr. Turganaliev. While acknowledging recent positive steps by the Kyrgyz President in the field of human rights, such as his recent decrees on better implementation of human rights standards and the creation of an ombudsman-system, we would like to remind the Kyrgyz authorities of the importance that the EU attaches to all aspects of the human rights situation, including the treatment of major opposition figures and human rights activists.
The associated Countries, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and the Czech Republic subscribe to this statement."