The hearing regarding the demolition of the only Krishna temple in Kazakhstan continued

Almaty, Kazakhstan. On November 3, 2008, the Karasai District Court continued hearing the case regarding the demolition of the only temple of the Krishna Society in Kazakhstan.

Representatives of OSCE and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights were present as monitors. Media representatives also attended the hearing.

The Hakim of Karasai District submitted the claim. The government has stated that the Temple and barn of Krishna community are illegal structures and is pushing the court to destroy these buildings and forcibly evict the members of the community from the property.
 
On October 22, 2008, the Krishna Society filed a petition to the Kazakh government requesting 11 specific documents pertaining to the complaints detailed in the claim. The government has failed to present the requested documents.

On October 28, 2008, representatives of the Krishna Society filed a petition to dismiss the case because the three year limitation of action from the moment of commissioning of the buildings in 2001 has expired.

The Society representatives suggested that the government cancel this case and settle the case amicably. In the last hearing the Judge agreed with the Krishna Society directors and requested the Hakim to withdraw his claim.

Five witnesses of the Krishna Society testified that the building, which the government is pushing to destroy, is the only temple of the Krishna Society in Kazakhstan.

The current case is the latest step of the Kazakh government in a planned campaign to liquidate the Society for Krishna Consciousness. During the past 4 years of judicial procedures, 26 homes of Krishna followers were demolished and the Kazakh government without compensation confiscated 116 acres of prime real estate that was privatized in the name of the Krishna Society.

Despite Kazakhstan’s 2010 chairmanship of OSCE the issue of the demolition of the Krishna community remains unresolved. The Kazakh government repeatedly asserts that it will protect the democratic principles of the organization and show the world what is true religious harmony. The simplest indication of this would be a fair and equitable resolve of this ongoing conflict.

The next hearing is on November 10, 2008, 11AM.