ASTANA -- Kazakhstan's Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by prominent jailed human rights defender Vadim Kuramshin to overturn his prison sentence.
After the court's ruling on November 25, Kuramshin's lawyers said they would now be eligible to take their appeal to international courts and bodies, including the UN Human Rights Committee.
Kuramshin had been appealing a 12-year prison sentence that he began serving last December after being found guilty of extortion.
In June, Kuramshin was awarded the 18th Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize in France. The prize will be officially presented on December 5 in Paris.
Kuramshin's mother, Olga Koltunova, is expected to travel to Paris to receive the prize.
Kuramshin's activities in recent years have helped to raise awareness of violation of inmates' rights in Kazakhstan's penitentiaries.
After the court's ruling on November 25, Kuramshin's lawyers said they would now be eligible to take their appeal to international courts and bodies, including the UN Human Rights Committee.
Kuramshin had been appealing a 12-year prison sentence that he began serving last December after being found guilty of extortion.
In June, Kuramshin was awarded the 18th Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize in France. The prize will be officially presented on December 5 in Paris.
Kuramshin's mother, Olga Koltunova, is expected to travel to Paris to receive the prize.
Kuramshin's activities in recent years have helped to raise awareness of violation of inmates' rights in Kazakhstan's penitentiaries.