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Report from Paris - Protest by Uzbek human rights defenders

On 30 January 2012, Uzbek dictator Karimov, in power since 1990, celebrated his 74th birthday. As is usual under authoritarian regimes, the president's birthday in Uzbekistan is an occasion for the grateful population to demonstrate its loyalty and gratitude in well orchestrated events reported by the state-owned media.

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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: Update – Human Rights Defender Norboy Kholjigitov releasedposted on: 2011/10/17

Human rights defender Mr Norboy Kholjigitov was released on parole on 14 October 2011. The former president of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU), Ishtikhan district, served 6 years and 4 months of a 10-year sentence.

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: 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: 2011/10/04

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.

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Uzbekistan: Update - Human rights defender Mr Maksim Popov releasedposted on: 2011/08/31

Human rights defender Mr Maksim Popov was released from Penal Colony No.6, Navoi Oblast, on 9 June 2011. He served two years of a seven-year prison sentence. The following five years of his prison sentence have been commuted to corrective work.

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On 9 June 2009, Mr Maksim Popov was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by Chilazar district court of Tashkent.

Maksim Popov is a psychologist and Executive Director of Izis, a non-governmental organisation which conducts training programmes on HIV/AIDS, individual and group counselling sessions, as well as ensuring the provision of sterile needles.

Front Line welcomes the release of Maksim Popov however urges the authorities in Uzbekistan to drop all charges against him.

Further information on this case is available here

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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: Uzbek human rights defender stripped of citizenship on release from prison before departure for USA posted on: 2011/05/24

According to Uz.News the revocation of his citizenship was a condition for the release of dissident writer Yusuf Juma from prison and his departure for the United States. Juma was released from prison on 19 May and was reunited with his family who are leaving in Louisville, Kentucky on 20 May.

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The writer told Uznews.net that when he was moved from the notorious Jaslyk prison in Karakalpakstan to Nukus after US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to Uzbekistan on 2 December, he thought this could be a sign of his impending early release from jail. He said that his expectations were confirmed when he was told about his early release on 19 May and was taken to Tashkent International Airport, where a US embassy official handed him all the necessary documents to depart for the USA.

However, he said, as a condition for his release and departure for the USA he was forced to give up his Uzbek citizenship. “A US diplomat gave my documents to a border guard, who made necessary stamps, and I was able fly,” he said.

Brussels: Front Line Open letter to President of European Commission highlights risks to human rights defenders in Uzbekistanposted on: 2011/01/21

In advance of the meeting between President Manuel Barroso of the European Commission and President Karimov of Uzbekistan, scheduled for Monday 24 January, Front Line has published an open letter to President Barroso setting out the organisation's key concerns about the dangers to human rights defenders in Uzbekistan.

Further Information

Mr José Manuel Barroso

President of the European Commission

B-1049 Brussels

Dublin, 21 January 2011

Re: Your meeting with Mr Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan, on 24 January 2011

Dear Commission President,

Front Line, the International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, has been informed that you will be meeting Mr Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan, on Monday 24 January 2011 on the occasion of Mr Karimov's discreet visit to Brussels.

Mr Karimov heads one of the most authoritarian regimes in Central Asia, which systematically targets and harshly represses all courageous voices defending human rights.