Tomorrow, 5 December 2013, the Kazakh human rights lawyer Vadim Kuramshin, will be awarded the prestigious 18th annual Ludovic-Trarieux human rights prize. The first was awarded to Nelson Mandela in 1985. At present, Vadim would not be able to collect this in person because he is currently being held in one of Kazakhstan's most notorious prisons on false charges.

Vadim has worked for many years to expose the ill-treatment of prisoners in Kazakhstan, including in the notorious prison EC 164/4 where he is currently being detained. He has faced torture and abuse for exposing the atrocious conditions and appalling treatment of detainees, including by leaking footage of police brutality.

In a trial without jury, which has been condemned as breaching Kazakhstan's own court procedures, Vadim was pronounced guilty of the extortion of a government official on 7 December 2012 and sent to prison for 12 years. The charges are widely perceived to be false, an attempt to discredit his reputation and silence his opposition.

Defending human rights is not an offence – we call on the Kazakh authorities to release Vadim and allow him to attend the formal awarding of his well-deserved prize in Paris on 5 December 2013.

Dave Nellist Chair, Campaign Kazakhstan, Liz Davies Chair, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, Sara Chandler Chair of the Law Society human rights committee, Professor Bill Bowring President, ELDH European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & Human Rights, Michael Mansfield QC, Anthony Gifford QC, John Hendy QC, Patrick O'Connor QC, Geoffrey Bindman QC, Phil Shiner Solicitor, Public Interest Lawyers, Louise Christian Solicitor, Imran Khan & Partners, Imran Khan Solicitor, Imran Khan & Partners, Paul Heron Solicitor, Public Interest Lawyers, Russell Fraser Secretary, Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, Rheian Davies Solicitor, DH Law, Angus King Solicitor, Cambridge House Law Centre, Michael Seifert Solicitor, Robert Atkins Solicitor, Tess Gill Barrister, Old Square chambers, Catrin Lewis Barrister, Garden Court chambers, Kate Markus Barrister, Doughty Street chambers