New EU rights envoy to raise issues with Russia, Kazakhstan
The new EU special representative for human rights, Stavros
Lambrinidis, has vowed to raise rights issues in his meetings with
Russia and Kazakhstan, Radio Liberty reported.
Lambrinidis told members of the European Parliament that in the
three months since he took over he has already been in touch with
counterparts in both Moscow and Astana and promised to continue to
engage in dialogue.
He noted that the EU had voiced concerns recently over new Russian
treason legislation and measures aimed at making life harder for
nongovernmental organizations.
Lambrinidis added that he would also bring up the case of Kazakh
opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov.
Kozlov was recently sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison on charges
of calling for the overthrow of the government during the Kazakh
oil workers' protests in December 2011.