On October 1st 2019, the apartment of the human rights lawyer and political refugee Bota Jardemalie was raided by the Belgian police whilst accompanied by two unidentified Kazakh agents as a result of mutual legal cooperation. Important documents have been seized and/or copied, which put at risk her life as well as the lives of those she protects: her family and her clients – mostly Kazakh oppositionists. This incident has generated repercussion inside and outside of Belgium. ODF has been following the case. Since then, several institutions have shown support to Jardemalie.
On 16th December 2019, members of the Italian Senate and the Italian Chamber of Deputies forwarded a letter to the Belgian Prime Minister, H.E. Sophie Wilmès, demonstrating their concern and outrage with the situation faced by Jardemalie in Belgium. In the letter, they plead for the end of any cooperation between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Government of Kazakhstan in the case of Jardemalie. Moreover, they call upon the assurance of Jardemalie’s safety, especially since she is a refugee and a lawyer committed to defending human rights.
Have signed the letter Senador Roberto Rampi, Senador Alessandro Alfieri and the Deputies Lia Quartapelle and Mauro Del Barba.