Nelson Mandela was the first recipient in 1985 of the Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize. Coincidentally it was on the day of his death, 5 December, that the ceremony took place in Paris for this year’s winner, Vadim Kuramshin. Like Mandela, when he was awarded this prize, Vadim Kuramshin is being held in prison under a brutal dictatorship.

Vadim Kuramshin was awarded the 18th Ludovic-Trarieux Prize for his courageous campaigning for human rights and prisoners’ rights in Kazakhstan.

Ben Robinson, spokesperson for Campaign Kazakhstan, says: “Vadim has played a courageous role in standing up for human rights, despite the huge self-sacrifice this has led to. He has consistently stood on the side of those victims of torture, discrimination and victimisation by a regime determined to keep power in its own hands by any means necessary.”

“This is the real reason why Vadim is currently in prison – because he has been a consistent thorn in the side of the regime. He was unanimously acquitted by a jury in his first trial, but then rearrested under the same charges and tried without a jury, where Vadim himself was not allowed a defence lawyer or any representation. Vadim is currently facing 12 years in jail. The Supreme Court, on 25 November, dismissed his case. His family and supporters are aiming to lodge the papers for an appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Commission before the end of this year.”

“Campaign Kazakhstan welcomes this recognition of Vadim Kuramshin’s tireless work for human rights in Kazakhstan, where many languish in prison for daring to oppose Kazakhstan’s president Nazarbayev and his supporters.”

Campaign Kazakhstan has consistently fought for the unconditional release of Vadim and recently assisted in getting lawyers to the High Court and also arranging for his mother and brother to be in Paris to receive the award on his behalf.

Campaign Kazakhstan is holding a protest on 16 December at 12 midday at the Kazakhstan embassy (125 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5EA) to demand the release of all political prisoners in Kazakhstan.

The campaign was launched in 2010 and has the affiliation of the RMT transport union, the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, Paul Murphy MEP and Jeremy Corbyn MP, amongst others.

ENDS