born political activist founded group investigate police brutality ethnic clashes primarily targeted people worked document violence subsequently arrested prosecuted charges creating mass disturbances ethnic hatred murder following trial protested international human rights groups irregularities including alleged torture courtroom intimidation witnesses police given life sentence currently serving november health reported rapidly deteriorating result confinement numerous groups advocated behalf including reporters borders people need designated prisoner conscience conferred human rights defender award government protested decision formally terminated agreement cooperation july revoked life sentence sent case review personal life born village attended arts college getting degree worked painter years early 1990s began writing human rights issues local newspaper married children human rights work worked human rights activist mid-1990s founded group air monitor conditions prisons working primarily area directed group time arrest able initiate new investigations cases police brutality torture police officers dismissed posts result investigations stated prosecutor investigator sued following article wrote torture allegations month court case ended verdict favor result claims enemies law enforcement community constantly looking opportunity shut arrest trial july saw outbreak ethnic violence people primarily killed hundreds thousands displaced following violence dozens community religious leaders arrested government accused ethnic violence filming killings arson attacks riots distributed video international media accused military killings arrested june human rights protested arrest shortly tried human rights activists court observer stated defendants witnesses evidenced fresh appeared tortured observer stated members trial audience openly threatened assaulted defendants lawyers inside courtroom local law enforcement refused intervene lawyer stated approached relatives police officer threatened violence continued defend leading issue appeal safety testified beaten tortured police custody lawyer reported november prosecutor office held press conference deny taken place imprisonment health november sentence upheld court days later reported health failing rapidly soon moved prison hospital hospital members family expressed concern receiving inadequate care prison authorities february agreed hear new evidence case hearing suspended april appeal hearing postponed second time december upheld sentence lawyer said protest supreme_court decision feared able survive day decision insists review case legislature international attention human rights watch line international partnership human rights denounced charges called fellow released officers arrested investigated abuse office cause championed american actor embassy pressure government hold hearings appeal reporters borders called immediate release march people need awarded recognition dedication promotion human rights democracy non violent solutions political conflicts acceptance speech written prison responded cried like baby words express heartfelt joy suffering torture humiliation realized high social value fighting human rights justice exhibition paintings opened organized wife human rights organizations paintings focus inhabitants valley scenes everyday lives won award recognizes journalists courage defending press freedom despite facing attacks threats imprisonment
Azimzhan Askarov