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.