Statement by the Spokesperson on the sentencing of Max Bokayev and Talgat Ayan in Kazakhstan

Human rights defenders Max Bokayev and Talgat Ayan were on the fourth week of November 2016 sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Atyrau City Court in Kazakhstan for organising and participating in peaceful protests in April 2016.

After the sentence, The European Union called for the release of Max Bokayev and Talgat Ayan, for Kazakhstan to cease the criminalisation of dissenting opinions and to ensure that the freedoms of speech and of assembly are protected