Posted
May 7th, 2010
by
English PEN is concerned for the welfare of former BBC and Radio Liberty journalist Vugar Khalilov. Khalilov, a UK citizen living in Kyrgyzstan, has reportedly been held in solitary confinement in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, since 12 April 2010.
According to our information, Vugar Khalilov has been accused of money laundering. However, it is widely believed that these charges are politically motivated. Furthermore, there are fears that he is not being given adequate medical attention, and that his current health complaints, including a spinal hernia, could be aggravated by prison conditions.
English PEN urges that he be granted full access to the medical attention he requires and that his legal rights are upheld.
The ‘Justice for Vugar Campaign’ released the following statement on 5 May 2010:
British Citizen Remains in Solitary Confinement in Kyrgyzstan and Denied Medical Care
The continued isolated confinement of a UK citizen in Bishkek Kyrgyzstan for more than three weeks continues to provoke deep concern in the international community and is a source of great concern to his family, friends and former journalistic colleagues. Denied regular legal and consular assistance since he was arrested on 12th of April, Vugar Khalilov is suffering from a serious medical condition and has been refused treatment. Vugar’s friends and family request continued robust action by the British government and the European Union to ensure his basic human rights are observed, that he is moved to safe location and provided with medical treatment and that he is allowed to defend himself against baseless charges.
Yesterday a court rejected an appeal made by his lawyer seeking to change his detention regime to “written commitment to leave,” allowing Vugar to leave prison while remaining in the country during the course of the ongoing investigation. Representatives from the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) local office and local human rights group, his public defender and the British honorary consul were barred from attending the proceedings, which were held behind closed doors. The court upheld the ruling of the court of the first instance, and Vugar’s detention for 60 days remains in force.
By way of background, on the evening of Monday, 12th April 2010, Vugar, a former BBC and Radio Liberty journalist and UK citizen living legally in Kyrgyzstan was detained by members of the National Security Service and taken to their headquarters in Bishkek. He was arrested in a hotel shortly after having met the UK ambassador to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan , David Moran. Formal notification of Vugar’s arrest was only made by the Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the British Embassy on 19th April 2010, in violation of Kyrgyzstan ‘s treaty obligations requiring it to have notified the UK immediately and no later than 48 hours after his arrest.
Vugar was remanded for 60 days during one brief court hearing on 16th April, during which he on charges of legalization of illegal funds, criminal charges he strenuously denies. He was only allowed brief and unofficial contact with his lawyer and honorary consul during the hearing. A second hearing was held on 4th May to hear an appeal. Independent human-rights observers were barred from the hearing.
Vugar’s lawyer, Artyom Ivanov, has made multiple applications to the National Security Service to see his client and was accompanied by the UK honorary consul in Kyrgyzstan ; this was denied on each occasion until 21st April, when he was allowed a single visit. His lawyer filed a complaint against the Bishkek City Prosecutor’s conduct in not permitting him to see his client. On 26th April, the Pervomaisky District Court found in favour of Mr Ivanov and ruled that he should have immediate access to his client. Nonetheless, on 28th April, his captors again refused access to both the Mr Ivanov and the UK honorary consul, in flagrant violation of the local court decision and the Vienna Convention. The lawyer continues to be denied regular access.
Vugar is suffering from a spinal hernia and his repeated requests for medical treatment had been refused. Medical records attesting to his condition have been provided to his security service captors. He is suffering from considerable pain and discomfort and given the conditions of his detention, his condition may deteriorate rapidly without urgent medical treatment. This medical condition may have been aggravated because Vugar has been kept in full isolation.
Also of deep concern regarding Vugar’s prospects for fair treatment are statements attributed to a deputy prime minister of the interim government who, in late April, gave an interview naming “enemies of the Kyrygz people who must be brought to punishment”, including Vugar, among others. We believe this publication blatantly undermines any chance of Vugar receiving fair treatment from the judicial authorities and undermines the very notion of innocence until guilt is proven. Furthermore, some local media outlets, citing the General Prosecutor’s Office have published misleading and false statements regarding the nature of Vugar’s work. His PR agency, Flexi Communications, was independent and had a number of private-sector clients, and he was not a deputy or otherwise the employee or business partner of any political or business figure, as wrongly claimed by these articles.
Vugar Khalilov worked for more than 20 years as a professional journalist for media outlets like BBC and Radio Liberty, upholding the values of objective and independent journalism, democracy and justice. He has at times risked his own life to determine the truth of a story. Having moved on from a successful career in journalism, Vugar was in Kyrgyzstan lawfully and running his own public relations firm, Flexi Communications, which served a wide range of clients in Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia . We believe that he and his firm were targeted because of the political ties of some of its clients, but ultimately the motive appears to be to silence him and ensure that he cannot speak to journalists.
We appeal to the government of Kyrgyzstan to observe Vugar’s rights under the country’s constitution and release him from custody immediately. We also ask the UK government to make every effort to secure Vugar’s release and ensure that he is provided with medical treatment and legal assistance and that his basic human rights are observed. We have genuine fears about his physical and mental wellbeing.
For further information, please see:
‘Ex-BBC reporter Vugar Khalilov held in Kyrgyzstan’ (BBC News, 26 April 2010)
‘Kyrgyzstan accused of breaching human rights after UK national is arrested’ (The Observer, 25 April 2010)
Please take action:
Please sign the petition for Vugar Khalilov here
Join the ‘Justice for Vugar Khalilov’ Facebook group here
Originally posted with the url: www.englishpen.org/writersinprison/bulletins/kyrgyzstanconcernsforformerbbcreportervugarkhalilov/
