Jailed Kazakh Dissident On Hunger Strike In Serious Condition

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- Jailed Kazakh dissident Ermek Narymbaev, who started a hunger strike almost three weeks ago, is in very serious condition as his parents continue to urge for his immediate release.

Narymbaev's lawyer Zhanar Balghabaeva gave RFE/RL a letter from her client in which the 52-year-old dissident wrote that he wants his organs "be used to save lives and health of other people in case of my death."

"My organs, any parts of my body can be also used for science, research. I must be buried without mullahs (Islamic clerics)," Narymbaev's letter says.

Balghabaeva told RFE/RL that her client has lost 15 kilograms during his hunger strike, launched 17 days ago.

Narymbaev's father told RFE/RL that his son may die in prison and called on Kazakhs to urge the authorities to release him

Narymbaev (also known as Narymbai) has been jailed several times for his political views and is known as a staunch critic of the tightly controlled former Soviet republic's government.

In 2016, he fled Kazakhstan for Ukraine after receiving death threats from unknown individuals. Narymbaev said at the time that the threats were masterminded by Kazakh authorities to intimidate him.

He returned to Kazakhstan in February after unprecedented anti-government rallies shook the Central Asian nation in early January, leaving at least 238 people dead.

He was arrested upon his arrival in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty, and sent to prison.

Authorities said that he must stay behind bars for 30 months to serve the remainder of a previous suspended prison term he was handed in 2015 on a charge of inciting hatred, which he called politically motivated.