Question and Answer With Yevgeny Zhovtis, Director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and the Rule of Law

Yevgeny Zhovtis is among Central Asia's most prominent human rights advocates. On November 9, 1999, a fire destroyed the human rights bureau's offices in Almaty. [For background see "A Fire With Human Rights Implications."] Investigators have confirmed that the blaze was an act of arson. However, no suspects have thus far been detained in connection with the fire. During a visit to New York in mid February, Mr. Zhovtis spoke with the Central Eurasia Project about civil society development in Central Asia

CEP: How would you describe current conditions concerning human rights observance in Kazakhstan?

Zhovtis: It is clear that the situation is deteriorating.