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Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan: Detention of human rights defenders Messrs Nurali Kulabov and Abdumurod Norboev and police surveillance and intimidation of several othersposted on: 2011/12/08

On 6, 7 and 8 December 2011, several members of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) and other human rights defenders have faced repressive measures taken by security forces.

Uzbekistan: Reported torture in detention of human rights defender Mr Azam Farmonovposted on: 2011/11/29

Front Line has learnt from reliable sources that human rights defender Mr Azam Farmonov has been tortured in detention.

Uzbekistan: Arrest and detention of human rights defenders Ms Gulshan Karaeva and Mr Nodir Akhatov while monitoring the use of child labour in cotton fieldsposted on: 2011/10/10

Human rights defenders Ms Gulshan Karaeva and Mr Nodir Akhatov were arrested and detained on 15 September 2011 as they monitored and documented the use of children who are forced to work in the cotton fields in Karshi town, Kashkadarya province. Gulshan Karaeva and Nodir Akhatov are members of the Karshi branch of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan: Travel ban imposed on human rights defender Mr Dmitry Tikhonovposted on: 2011/06/10

On 23 May 2011, Mr Dmitry Tikhonov was refused permission to board a plane going from Tashkent to Almaty, Kazakhstan. Dmitry Tikhonov is a member of the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan and actively monitors the human rights situation in the town of Angren in the Tashkent region. The Human Rights Alliance works on several human rights issues including torture, access to justice, right to a fair trial and economic and social rights. It is particularly active in organising street actions and advocating the right to peaceful assemblies.

Uzbekistan – Human rights defenders Ms Gulshan Karaeva and Mr Nodir Akhatov detained and interrogatedposted on: 2010/12/02

On 25 November 2010, human rights defenders Ms Gulshan Karaeva and Mr Nodir Akhatov were detained and interrogated by Uzbek police officers over their suspected involvement in the organisation of a demontration in Karshi. Gulshan Karaeva and Nodir Akhatov are members of Karshi branch of Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU).

Further Information

On 25 November 2010, at approximatively 10:00am a group of muslim women gathered in front of the National Security Service (SNB) building in Karshi in protest, over the mass arrest of their children on 16 November 2010.

Gulshan Karaeva and Nodir Akhatov did not take part in the demonstration, but observed it taking place. Approximately one hour later, at 11:00am, a convoy of SNB officers interrupted the protest, and arrested Ms Karaeva and Mr Akhatov, as well as a number of others who were participating in the demonstration.

Those arrested were brought to the Karshi City Police Department where the were interrogated until 7:00pm. Police officers tried to force Ms Karaeva and Mr Akhatov to admit involvement in organising the protest, claiming that some of the demonstrators had made statements suggesting as such.

Uzbekistan: Human right defender Dilmurod Sayid sentenced to 12.5 years of imprisonmentposted on: 2010/09/21

Uzbek human rights defender, Mr Dilmurod Sayid, was sentenced to 12.5 years of imprisonment on 30 July 2009, following a procedurally flawed trial which had allegedly been instigated by politically-motivated charges.

Uzbekistan: Burglary at the offices of Ezgulik human rights societyposted on: 2010/05/28

On the weekend of 22-23 May 2010, an office of human rights society Ezgulik ('goodness') was broken into and important articles were stolen. Ezgulik, one of only two legally registered human rights organisations in Uzbekistan, regularly reports on human rights violations in Uzbekistan and has offices throughout the country.

Uzbekistan: Call for amnesty for human rights defender Mr Maksim Popov, sentenced to seven years in prison in 2009posted on: 2010/05/10

On 9 June 2009, human rights defender Mr Maksim Popov was sentenced to seven years imprisonment. Maksim Popov is a psychologist and Executive Director of Izis, a non-governmental organisation conducting programs such as individual and group counselling, provision of sterile needles, and training on HIV/AIDS in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan: Intimidation and illegal police search at home of human rights defender Ms Tatiana Dovlatovaposted on: 2010/04/30

Human rights defender Ms Tatiana Dovlatova has recently been subjected to harassment by police authorities in Tashkent, and faced an illegal police search at her home on 21 April 2010.

Uzbekistan: Physical attack against human rights defender Mr Dmitry Tikhonovposted on: 2010/02/26

Human rights defender Mr Dmitry Tikhonov was attacked on 23 February 2010. Dmitry Tikhonov is a member of the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan and actively monitors the human rights situation in the town of Angren in the Tashkent region. The Human Rights Alliance works on several human rights issues including torture, access to justice, right to a fair trial, economic and social rights, and the rights of vulnerable groups.

Uzbekistan: Harsh sentencing of human rights defender, Mr Gaybullo Jalilovposted on: 2010/02/03

Human rights defender Mr Gaybullo Jalilov has been sentenced to nine years in prison after a closed trial on 18 January 2010. Gaybullo Jalilov is a member of the Karshi branch of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan: Extended prison sentence and deteriorating health of imprisoned human rights defender, Mr Habibbula Akpulatovposted on: 2010/01/11

Imprisoned Uzbek human rights defender Mr Habibbula Akpulatov has recently had his prison sentence extended for a further three years on the basis of charges of systematic violation of his prison's internal rules. Habibbula Akpulatov is a member of the Ishtikhan regional branch of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan: Human rights defender Ms Umida Ahmedova facing charges of slander and insultposted on: 2009/12/22

On 16 December 2009 human rights defender Ms Umida Ahmedova, a photographer and film-maker, learnt that she is facing charges of slander and insult in relation to a book of her photographs. The charges relate to an investigation opened in November 2009 by the Uzbek Agency of Media and Information into several books and films created on gender issues, whose authors were examined by officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Uzbekistan: Human rights defender, Mr Ganihon Mamathanov, sentenced to five years in prison on fabricated chargesposted on: 2009/11/27

Uzbek human defender Mr Ganihon Mamathanov was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of extortion and bribery, on 25 November 2009. Ganihon Mamathanov is a defender of social rights, particularly of farmers' land rights, and is one of the last human rights defenders working in the Fergana valley. He collaborates with the Radio Liberty Uzbek Service.

Uzbekistan: Human rights defenders Mr Bahtiyor Hamrayev and Mr Mamir Azimov beaten by policeposted on: 2009/11/17

On 11 November 2009, human rights defenders Mr Bahtiyor Hamrayev and Mr Mamir Azimov were beaten by police in Jizzakh, Uzbekistan, reportedly because they met with Mr Bahodir Choriyev, the leader of the Birdamlik (Solidarity) Movement. Bahtiyor Hamrayev is head of the Jizzakh Region branch of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU). Mamir Azimov is the Chairperson of the HRSU's Jizzakh district branch. Bahodir Choriyev recently returned to Uzbekistan after spending time in exile in the United States. The Birdamlik Movement aims to peacefully change the regime of President Islam Karimov in Uzbekistan.