An 18-year-old from Puglia of Kazakh origins , Amina, has been locked up for three months in the prison of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.

The young woman, who lives in Lequile, in the province of Lecce, was arrested on 11 July on charges of international drug trafficking and risks 10 to 15 years in prison.

The Puglia newspaper reports it.

The girl, who does not speak Russian or Kazakh, was arrested without the presence of a translator and without evidence, on charges that the 18-year-old and her mother firmly deny. The 18-year-old had gone to Kazakhstan with her mother Assemgul Sapenova to visit some relatives who live there.

Stopped for the first time by the police on July 2, while she was with a local boy, she was released after a night in custody. On 4 July she was stopped again and taken by deception - the newspaper reconstructs - by two police officers to a private apartment where she was segregated and mistreated for 16 days . The agents then allegedly asked her mother for a ransom of 60 thousand euros by phone to get her back.

At that point the woman reportedly turned to the Italian embassy in Astana which obtained her release. After a few days, however, the 18-year-old was again summoned by the police who, after signing some documents, arrested her for drug trafficking.

«She attempted suicide twice, the second time when they denied her house arrest – says her mother – She feels bad because no one believes her. She has lost nine kilos, she is tired. We are all very depressed." "I ask for help from Italy and in particular from Minister Tajani, please help me, I want to go home", writes Amina on a note entrusted to her mother.

The Farnesina, according to what we learn from informed sources, has followed the case of Amina Milo Kalelkyzy from the beginning. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has instructed the embassy in Astana to guarantee maximum assistance to his compatriot , who receives regular visits from Italian consular staff in Kazakhstan. During the trial phases, it is assured, an embassy official always participated as an observer . The ministry and the embassy in Astana, it is announced, will continue to deal with the case.

(Unioneonline/D)

© Riproduzione riservata