ASTANA -- A jailed Kazakh human rights defender, Vadim Kuramshin, will be formally awarded the prestigious 18th annual Ludovic-Trarieux International Human Rights Prize in Paris.
Kuramshin's mother, Olga Koltunova, is expected to receive the prize at a ceremony in the French capital on December 5.
A jury of 29 European lawyers awarded the prize to Kuramshin in June. The first Ludovic-Trarieux human rights prize was awarded to Nelson Mandela in 1985.
Kuramshin's activities have helped to raise awareness of violations of inmates' rights in Kazakh penitentiaries, including the notorious EC 164/4 prison, where he is currently incarcerated.
Last month, Kazakhstan's Supreme Court rejected Kuramshin's appeal to overturn his prison sentence.
Kuramshin had been appealing a 12-year prison sentence that he began serving in December 2012 after being found guilty of extortion, a charge widely perceived to be politically motivated.
Kuramshin's mother, Olga Koltunova, is expected to receive the prize at a ceremony in the French capital on December 5.
A jury of 29 European lawyers awarded the prize to Kuramshin in June. The first Ludovic-Trarieux human rights prize was awarded to Nelson Mandela in 1985.
Kuramshin's activities have helped to raise awareness of violations of inmates' rights in Kazakh penitentiaries, including the notorious EC 164/4 prison, where he is currently incarcerated.
Last month, Kazakhstan's Supreme Court rejected Kuramshin's appeal to overturn his prison sentence.
Kuramshin had been appealing a 12-year prison sentence that he began serving in December 2012 after being found guilty of extortion, a charge widely perceived to be politically motivated.
