Front Line is concerned following information received regarding the arrest of Uzbek human rights defender Mr Dilmurod Sayid, in Tashkent, on 22 February 2009. Dilmurod Sayid is a member of the Tashkent regional branch of Human Rights Society “Ezgulik”. He writes as an independent journalist for the internet site “Voice of Freedom”.

Further Information

Dilmurod Sayid has worked to defend the rights of farmers in the Samarkand region, whose lands were illegally seized by the local administration. Inquiries were opened against a certain number of civil servants after Dilmurod Sayid denounced corruption in the Djambaj district of the Samarkand region.

Late in the evening, on 22 February 2009, Mr Dilmurod Sayid was arrested by the Tashkent branch of the State Tax Committee, under orders from the General Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan. He has reportedly been charged with extortion. The same evening, he was brought to Samarkand where an investigation is currently being carried out.

Dilmurod Sayid had previously received threats from the local administration of the Samarkand region.

Uzbek human rights defenders and Front Line consider that the arrest of Dimurod Sayid, especially given that he has been charged with extortion, may be directly related to his peaceful and legitimate work in the defence of human rights, in particular his work to expose corruption in the Samarkand region.