Uzbekistan – Ill-treatment of detained human rights defender Norboy Kholjigitov

Update Front Line is seriously concerned by new reports of the deterioration in the health of human rights defender Norboy Kholjigitov, former President of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU), Ishtikhan district. On 18 October 2005, the Samarkand Regional Criminal Court sentenced Norboy Kholjigitov to ten years' imprisonment and he is currently being detained at the 64/49 Prison in Karshi.

Further Information

posted 07/10/08

On 17 October 2008, Front Line received information that Norboy Kholjigitov has been regularly subjected to ill-treatment while in detention. He is 60 years old and his diabetes has been deteriorating due to the lack of adequate medical treatment in the prison. Furthermore it is believed that Norboy Kholjigitov, along with other detainees in Uzbek prisons, are regularly subjected to torture. Recently, having committed no disciplinary violation, Norboy Kholjigitov received a warning from the prison authority. Prisoners who receive such a warning are automatically excluded from the possibility of an amnesty of their sentence.

Norby Kholjigitov has been in detention since 4 June 2005 when he was arrested along with two other members of the HRSU. Aslitdin Suvankulov, a lawyer for Norboy Kholjigitov, was attacked after saying he would act as his defence lawyer. On 18 October 2005 Norboy Kholjigitov was sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for violating six articles of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan.

Front Line is concerned that Norby Kholjigitov´s continued detention is an attempt to dissuade him from continuing his legitimate and peaceful activities in defence of human rights. Concern is also expressed at reports that he has been subjected to ill-treatment and that, while his health continues to deteriorate, he has been denied access to adequate medical treatment.