On 15 September Azimjan Askarov was sentenced to life imprisonment after an unfair trial during which he appeared in court with visible signs of having been beaten and during which the lawyers and defendants were routinely shouted at, threatened and intimidated.

Azimjan is a human rights defender of ethic Uzbek origin who campaigned for human rights and who during the recent inter-ethnic conflict was documenting the violence. He also used his influence to try and calm the situation.

The prosecution of Azimjan Askarov is part of an ongoing campaign by the authorities to fix blame for the inter-ethnic violence on the Uzbek community.

Azimjan's appeal against his life sentence starts its next session today

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TODAY - HELP GET AZIMJAN ASKAROV OUT OF JAIL

LOG ON TO http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Free-Azimjan-Askarov/143217625724878