Open Letter to Minister of Foreign Affairs of France Laurent Fabius in conjunction with his visit to Uzbekistan

On the importance of human rights in negotiations with Uzbekistan

27 February 2013

To: Mr Laurent Fabius, 

Minister of Foreign Affairs of France

Mr Laurent Fabius,

In conjunction with your visit to Uzbekistan we call upon you to raise the most urgent and topical issues of human rights during your meetings with the representatives of the state authorities. We draw your attention to just a few of them:

         The right to freedom of movement

In Uzbekistan the Soviet system of restriction to freedom of travel outside the country is preserved. Every person intending to travel abroad is obliged to obtain an exit visa in the Department of entry and exit (OVIR) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is issued maximum for two years and not to everybody. Exit visas are denied most frequently to human rights defenders, representatives of political opposition, journalists, freedom-thinking culture and art workers, etc. 

In January 2013 another application by a famous artist Vyacheslav Akhunov to exit the country was declined. No explanation was provided why it was not advisable for him to exit the country. Artist Akhunov took part in 200 exhibitions in various countries of the world. This year he has been invited to the 55^th Venetian biennale, which is starting on 1 June 2013. Denial of the right to exit the country to Akhunov can only be explained by the reaction of the authorities to the independent creative activity of the artist.

Since 2011 human rights defenders Abdullo Tojiboy-ugly and Shukhrat Rustamov have been denied the right to exit the country.

All these limitations including the institute of exit visa (permission to exit) are in violation of Article 12 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (the right to free movement and freedom of residence).

          Imprisoned disabled persons

Disabled persons of 1^st and 2^nd category are serving sentences in prisons not subject to amnesties for many years.

          1)   Mukhammadjon Akhmedovich Kurbanov, born 27 February 1957 in Ferghana province, citizen of Uzbekistan. 2 October 2006 he was formally recognized as disabled of the 2^nd category, he has 4^th phase bronchial asthma. Disability certificate No.А070009827. He is serving his sentence in UYa УЯ 64/73 in the colony in Zafarabad district of Jizzak province.

          2)   Rustam Rakhmankulov, born 17.10.1962, citizen of Tajikistan. In 2006 he was formally recognized as disabled of the 2^nd category, which is confirmed by the letter of the Tajikistan Embassy in Uzbekistan. He is in custody UYa 64/71 in the village of Zhaslyk, Karakalpakstan.

          3)   Shavkat Muslimovich Karimov, born 23 June 1971, citizen of Tajikistan. Since 30 March 1996 has 2^nd category disability. This is confirmed by the certificate of the Embassy of Tajikistan in Uzbekistan. He is serving his sentence in the colony 64/47 in the town of Kyzyltepa, Navoi province.

          4)   Murad Almatovich Latipov, born 1 January 1957 in Tashkent, citizen of Uzbekistan. It is mentioned in his court sentence that he has 1^st category disability (blind) since1 January 1997. He is serving his sentence in the colony UYa 64/32 in the Pap district, Namangan province.

          5)   Sunnat Turgunovich Talasov, born 28.08.1964 in Tashkent, citizen of Uzbekistan. It is mentioned in his court sentence that he has 1^st category disability (blind). It has not been possible to determine the location of his detention. Press Release: Uzbekistan: prisoners with disabilities were not subject to amnesty, 24.02.2013.

          Shutting down the office of HRW

Since 2007 the Tashkent office of the international human rights organization “Human Rights Watch”, which had functioned in Uzbekistan for 15 years. This organization enjoys special trust among residents of the country. However, it was evicted for its principles stand in the evaluation of the 2005 events in Andijan. As you know, one of the conditions, upon which European Union sanctions against Uzbekistan would be lifted, was resumption of the activity of HRW. Uzbekistan is not fulfilling that condition.

          Extension of imprisonment terms

The practice of extension of prison terms to human rights defenders, journalists, representatives of political opposition, and thousands of prisoners sentenced for “religious extremism” has become a norm. This is done with a help of unfounded charges of “disobedience of the demands of the administration of the detention institution” (Article 221 Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan). Sentences are issued in violation of the principles of justice and objectivity. Extension of imprisonment terms leads to life sentence.

Former Member of Parliament of Uzbekistan Murad Juraev, 61, spent 18 years in prison. In 2012 he was sentenced again to 3 years of imprisonment. This is his 5^th conviction in succession. Writer Mamadali Makhmudov, 72, spent 14 years behind bars. Currently, investigation is under way and he faces new prison term. Human rights defender Isroil Khaidarov, 62, disabled of the 2^nd category, served 6 years; in 2012 he was added 3 more years.

Give us grounds for hope that during your visit to Uzbekistan You will allocate sufficient attention to the human rights theme: this should influence the fate of the above mentioned persons and organization “Human Rights Watch” in a positive way.

With respect,

Nadejda Atayeva,

President, Association for Human Rights in Central Asia 

Kyrgyzstan: Shukhrat Musin a refugee from Uzbekistan is missing

Are the Kyrgyz and Uzbek secret services involved in his disappearance?

On 18 February 2013, an Uzbek citizen Shukhrat Musin went missing in Bishkek. Shortly before noon, someone called on his mobile, and he went out, telling that he will be back soon. His two underage children and his colleague were in the house he rented in the Alamedin residential area of the Sverdlovsk district of Bishkek. His wife, at this time, was on her way from Jalal-Abad to Bishkek. The colleague could not wait any longer, to see him come back, and left when Musin’s wife returned.

It has been 8 days, since Musin was last in contact, he is not picking up the calls.

Shukhrat Musin 

Shukhrat Sharipovich Musin was born on 30 September 1984 in the town of Jalal-Abad in Southern Kyrgyzstan. He grew up in the town of Khanabad of the Andijan region of Uzbekistan.

In 2007, after he and his friends watched the video of the events in Andijan in May 2005, he attracted the attention of the Uzbek National Security Service (SNB). In April 2008, several of them were arrested, accused of involvement in the so-called wahabbism and sentenced to imprisonment. The house where the Musins lived was searched several times, during which religious literature was planted. Later, it turned out that the planted literature was banned, by the State Committee for Communication, Informatisation and Telecommunication Technologies of the Republic of Uzbekistan, under the law of censorship.

Shukhrat’s father, Sharip Musin was already on the list of Uzbek law enforcement agencies for his compliance with Islamic rites. In 2008, law enforcement authorities were actively collecting material of accusatory nature against him, and he left for work in Russia. Soon after that Shukhrat Mussin’s mother began to fear arrest. It irritated the authorities that she was wearing hijab.

In 2008, the local policeman, later the agents of law enforcement bodies and the National Security Service often paid visits to Shukhrat Mussin. Musin decided to leave Uzbekistan.

Together with his wife and mother, Shukhrat moved to Kyrgyzstan; his father came from Russia to join them. Together they approached the UNHCR office in Bishkek.

In 2009, Shukhrat Musin was recognised as a refugee under the UN mandate and lived in Kyrgyzstan, awaiting resettlement in a third country. By that time, Uzbek authorities proclaimed him wanted. His parents were soon resettled to the United States through the UNHCR.

In October 2010 Shukhrat Musin was detained in Bishkek by the agents of the State Committee of the Kyrgyz National Security (SCNS), on the basis of a request for his extradition to Uzbekistan. At home Mussin was declared wanted under the Article 159 (encroachment on the constitutional order of Uzbekistan) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan, on charges of belonging to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). Musin denied allegations of the crimes and involvement in extremist organisations. In the detention centre of the SNSC, Shukhrat Mussin was forced, under torture, to incriminate himself and tacit cooperation. Musin stubbornly refused all this, and torturers struck heavy blows on his head. As a result, Shukhrat Musin incurred impaired hearing. He was threatened that if he did not accept the conditions of the National Security Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the UNHCR would deprive him of the status of refugee, and he would be extradited to Uzbekistan. Musin personally informed the Association “Human Rights in Central Asia” of the incident; the same was said by his father Sharip Musin.

In February 2011, following the intervention of the UNHCR office in Bishkek, Shukhrat Musin was released. In December 2012 he was again arrested by the National Security Committee of Kyrgyzstan for 4 hours.

Soon after that, pseudonym articles with charges against him began to appear on the Internet, without Mussin’s consent, a certificate of the High Commissioner for Refugees, issued to him in January 2010, was made public. According to Musin, as soon as he discovered these publications, he reported them to the UNHCR staff in Bishkek (in July, September and November 2012). He also reported that he noticed the interest to him and his place of residence by law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan. He did not receive any protection, in response to his reports to the UNHCR office and was forced to move from place to place about every three months.

In November 2012, the representative of the UNHCR office in Bishkek met with refugees, among whom was Shukhrat Musin. In the presence of more than 10 refugees, Musin said that once the officers of the SNSC of Kyrgyzstan learn his address, they tell the landlords that he is a terrorist and encourage the landlord to evict Mussin. The situation did not improve even after his meeting with the UNHCR representative. By this time, the U.S. had twice refused to resettle Musin, the validity of his Uzbek passport expired in September 2009. Musin was forced to hide his place of residence from all, especially from the National Security Committee of Kyrgyzstan.

The UNHCR office learned of Shukhrat Mussin’s disappearance by noon of 19 February 2013.  On the same day, his wife applied for legal aid in the Public Foundation “Adilet Legal Clinic”, and now Mussin has a lawyer. However, Musin’s whereabouts is not known so far.

The case of Shukhrat Musin is not the only one that took place in the last eight years. Human rights defenders registered more than 20 known examples of forced return of Uzbeks from Kyrgyzstan to Uzbekistan with the involvement of the special services of the two countries. There is reason to believe that the number of such cases is much greater, the names of many of the victims of forced displacement are unknown, as they were not registered with the UNHCR office and did not approach the human rights defenders.

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia – AHRCA regularly receives complaints about the office of the UNHCR in Geneva which granted the applicants a UN recognised refugee status. He began to consider cases of refugees from Uzbekistan very slowly and in increasingly formal manner. This is true even of torture victims and former prisoners of civil society. When reviewing the applications of Uzbek refugees, the UNHCR rarely takes into account that torture and fabrication of criminal charges are systematically practiced in Uzbekistan, for over 10 years, the government did not allow the 10 thematic UN Special Rapporteurs to visit the country, and international organisations, including HRW, are driven out from Uzbekistan, more than 200 human rights activists and independent journalists are subjected to harassment. The fates of refugees who are forcibly returned to Uzbekistan are usually shrouded in mystery.

The past three years of experience shows:

- Giving in to the political pressure from the countries of Central Asia and other members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), the UNHCR is departing from its constitutional principles;

- The governments of the EU countries, USA and Canada increasingly refuse to grant asylum to the UN recognised refugees who are wanted in their country of origin on the basis of unsubstantiated allegations of serious crimes. In taking such decisions, the governments are relying on information received from the Uzbek authorities, although Uzbekistan is notorious for malicious violation of human rights and lack of rule of law;

- Refugees have to wait for the decision of the UNHCR in countries where the law enforcement authorities take arbitrary decisions; the number of cases of kidnapping of refugees by the Uzbek secret services is increasing;

- Persons persecuted for their religious beliefs are not protected and are increasingly losing the prospects of resettlement to a third country, if applied to the UNHCR offices in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia – AHRCA calls the:

- UN High Commissioner for Refugees;

- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights;

- UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

- UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights in the Fight against Terrorism -
     to enforce the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees and other international human rights treaties in the context of protecting the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, to pay serious attention to the plight of refugees from Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan and other countries of the CIS and the SCO.

Uzbekistan: prisoners with disabilities were again left out of amnesty

More than two months ago, on 4 December 2012, the Senate of Uzbekistan, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the country's Constitution, passed a resolution on amnesty of prisoners. As the Senate Committee on Legislation and Legal Affairs noted, it is an act of humanity to those whose crimes are not dangerous to the society. In the resolution, in particular, persons with disabilities groups 1 and 2, persons suffering from serious diseases, women and men over 60, foreign citizens are separately noted.

Previous amnesty in Uzbekistan was declared in December 2011. According to official figures, it was applied to more than 45 thousand people, also 1,958,000 people were released from serving a criminal sentence, the prison sentences of the rest were reduced or their prosecution were discontinued.

The resolution of 4 December 2012 is structured in such a way that a number of political prisoners are excluded from the amnesty.

The Association “Human Rights in Central Asia” — AHRCA has learnt that, for several years, the acts of amnesty are not applied to the following persons:

1.    prisoners with 1^st and 2^nd group of disability, the list follows:

Muhammadjon Akhmedovich Kurbanov was born on 27 February 1957 in the Fergana region, a citizen of Uzbekistan. On 2 October 2006 he was certified as disabled with the severity group 2. He suffers from asthma of the 4^th degree. His disability certificate number is A070009827

Muhammadjon Kurbanov is in prison since 2009. He was convicted under the following Articles of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan: 227 (acquisition, destruction, damage, or concealment of documents, stamps, and forms); 168, part 2, paragraphs "а", "b" (Fraud), part 3, paragraph "b" (fraud in large amount). During the investigation of his case, he was subjected to torture. The acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Rustam Rakhmankulov was born in 1962, a citizen of Tajikistan. In 2006 he was certified as the 2^nd group disabled, as evidenced by the letter of the Embassy of Tajikistan in Uzbekistan. He is serving a sentence at the prison УЯ 64/71, located in the in the village of Jasliq of Karakalpakistan.

Rustam Rakhmankulov was convicted by the Tashkent City Criminal Court on 14 June 2009 to 18 years of imprisonment under the following Articles of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan: 273, part 5 (illegal sale of narcotic or psychotropic substances); 246, part 2 (smuggling). The Court did not take into consideration that he was disabled. The acts of amnesty of 27.06.2009, 28.08.2010, and 08.12.2011 were not applied to his case.

            Shavkat Muslimovich Karimov was born on 23 June 1971, a citizen of Tajikistan. Since 30 March 1996 he holds a certificate of disability of the 2^nd group. This fact is confirmed in the letter of reference issued by the embassy of Tajikistan in Uzbekistan. He is held at the prison number 64/47 at the town of Kiziltepa of the Navai Region.

On 9 February 2011 the Mirabad District Criminal Court of Tashkent sentenced Shavkat Karimov to 20 years of imprisonment under the Article 273, part 5 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (illegal production, purchase, storage, carriage or transmission of narcotic and psychotropic substances with the purpose to sell, as well as sale thereof). The acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Murad Almatovich Latipov was born on 1 January 1957 in Tashkent, a citizen of Uzbekistan. His prison sentence indicates that he is the 1^st group disabled, he is blind. He was certified as disabled on 1 January 1997. He is serving a sentence at the prison УЯ 64/32, located in the Pop District of the Namangan Region.

Murad Almatovich Latipov was sentenced under 11 Articles on the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan: 28 (types of accomplices) in conjunction with Article 97 (intentional killing), part 2, paragraphs "а", "d", "e", "m", "p", "q" (15 year of imprisonment); 145 (violation of freedom of religion), part 2 (2 years of imprisonment); 155 (terrorism), part 3, paragraphs "а", "b" (15 year of imprisonment); 158 (offences against President of Republic of Uzbekistan), part 1 (10 years of imprisonment); 159, part 4 (10 years of imprisonment); 161 (sabotage) (15 year of imprisonment); 242 (organisation of criminal community), part 1 (15 years of imprisonment), 244-1, part 3, paragraphs "а" "b" (5 years of imprisonment), 244-2, part 2 (15 years of imprisonment), under the application of the Article 59 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (inflicting penalty in instance of multiple crime) he was sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment. He was arrested on 16 October 2004. He was accused of involvement in the bombings of 1999. He cannot walk unaccompanied. This fact was known to the Court and there were nine Central TV operators in Uzbekistan present at the hearing, including the news service "Akhborot", the representative of the Ombudsman and the diplomatic embassies of EU countries. The acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Sunnat Turgunovich Talasov was born on 28 August 1964 in Tashkent, a citizen of Uzbekistan. His prison sentence indicates that he is a disabled person of the 1^st group, he is blind. Talasov was sentenced under 10 Articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan: 28 (types of accomplices) in conjunction with Article 97 (murder), part 2, paragraphs "а", "d", "e", "m", "p", "q" (8 years of imprisonment); 155, part 3, paragraphs "а", "b" (8 years of imprisonment); 158, part 1 (offences against President of Republic of Uzbekistan) (8 years of imprisonment); 159, part 4 (7 years of imprisonment); 161 (7 years of imprisonment); 242, part 1 (7 years of imprisonment); 244-1, part 3, paragraphs "а", "b" (5 years of imprisonment); 244-2, part 2 (7 years of imprisonment), under the application of 59 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan he was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. He was arrested on 27 November 2004. He was sentenced by the Tashkent City Criminal Court on 21 February 2005. Current location of Talasov is not known. The acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

2. political prisoners, 60 years old and over:

Isak Abdullaev was born in 1935, a citizen of Uzbekistan. He is a member of the “Mazlum” Human Rights Centre. He was arrested on 13 March 2005, charged under Articles 110, part 2 (torture), 112 part 1 (death threats or violence), 137, Part, 2, paragraph "a", "b", "c", " d "(kidnapping), 138, part 2, paragraphs  “a”,"b"(forcible unlawful confinement), 139, part 3, paragraphs "a", "b", "c" (slander), 165, Part 2 (extortion), 166, part 4, paragraph "a" (robbery), 168, Parts 1, 3, paragraph "a" (fraud), 182, part 2, paragraph "a" (violation of customs laws), 184 Part 3 (evasion of taxes or other payments) 219, part 2 (resistance to authority or person performing a civic duty), 237 (false information) 244-1 (production and distribution of materials containing a threat to public safety and order) and 273 (illegal manufacturing, purchase, storage, and other actions in relation to drugs or psychotropic substances for the purpose of sale, and sale of thereof) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Isak Abdullaev was convicted at the age of 70, at the age of 77, he remains in custody. Acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Salijon Abdurakhmanov was born in 1950, a citizen of Uzbekistan. He is a founder and correspondent of «Uznews.net» (http://www.uznews.net), a member of the “Real Journalists of Uzbekistan” and the “Committee for the Protection of Personal Rights in Karakalpakstan”. He worked for the radio “Freedom” and the Institute for War and Peace. He was arrested on 7 June 2008. He was charged under Article 276, part 2, paragraph “a” of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (illegal manufacturing, purchase, storage, and other actions in relation to narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances without the purpose of sale) and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Salijon Abdurakhmanov, now 62 years old, is serving his sentence in a complex living conditions, his access to health care is restricted. Acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Murat Juraev was born in 1952, a citizen of Uzbekistan. He is a former Member of the Parliament of Uzbekistan, and a former mayor of the town of Mubarek of the Kashkadarya region. He took an active part in making of the “Declaration of Independence” in the Parliament of the country. He is a member of the Central Council of the “Erk” Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. On 18 June 1994 he was sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of committing crimes under the following Articles of the 1995 Criminal Code of Uzbekistan: 17-55, 17-60, Part 2, 17-62, 17-73, Part 1, 17-197, Part 1. Soon after, his sentence was reduced to 9 years. Over the years, Juraev was sentenced 4 times under the article 221 (disobedience to lawful demands of the administration of the penal institutions): in 2003, 2006, 2009, and on 5 December 2012. 60 years old Murad Juraev remains in prison, he suffers from ill nasopharynx, and he needs a dental care. Acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Samandar Kukanov was born in 1945, a citizen of Uzbekistan. He is a former Deputy of the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a member of the “Erk” Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. In 1993, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison on charges of economic crimes. The information of health of the 67 years old Samandar Kukanova is not publicly available, his close family is intimidated. Acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Ganikhon Mamatkhanov was born in 1951, a citizen of Uzbekistan. He was the Fergana Valley Representative of the “Committee for the Protection of individual rights”. He was arrested on 9 October 2009, then sentenced to five years in prison under Articles 168 (fraud), 211, Part 3 (bribery) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. The 61 years old prisoner, Ganikhon Mamatkhanov suffers from heart problems. Acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

The writer, Mamadali Makhmudov was born in 1940. He is a member of the “Erk” Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. He is a former chairman of the Cultural Foundation of Uzbekistan. He was arrested on 19 February 1999 and sentenced to 14 years of imprisonment under Articles 25-159, Part 4 (attempts to Constitutional order of Republic of Uzbekistan), 216 (illegal organisation of public associations or religious organisations), 242, Part 1 (organisation of criminal community) of the Criminal Code Uzbekistan. The 72 years old prisoner, Mamadali Makhmudov remains in custody. Acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Agzam Turgunov was born in 1952, a citizen of Uzbekistan. He was a CEO and founder of the “Mazlum” Human Rights Centre.  On 11 July 2008 he was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment under Article 165 (extortion) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. The 60 years old prisoner Agzam Turgunov suffering from heart problems. The acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Rustam Usmanov was born in 1948, a citizen of Kyrgyzstan. He is a former Chairman of the first private commercial bank “Rustam-bank.” In February 1998, he was sentenced to 14 years in prison under Articles 165, part 3 (extortion), 177, Part 3 (illegal purchase or sale of foreign currency), 205, part 2 (abuse of official position or office), 209, Part 1 (forgery of the official documents) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. In February 2012, he was handed down the second sentence, under which he was sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment under Article 221 (disobedience to the lawful demands of the administration of the penal institutions). The 64 years old prisoner, Rustam Usmanov was repeatedly tortured. He suffers from heart problems. The acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

Isroiljon Kholdarov was born on 23 August 1951, a citizen of Uzbekistan. He was the Chairman of the Andijan branch of the “Ezgulik” Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan. In October 2005, he left Uzbekistan and applied for international protection at the UNHCR office in Kyrgyzstan. On 2 November 2005 Uzbekistan announced him wanted, charged under the Article 159, part 1, of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan (attempt on the constitutional order). According to the official version of events, on 7 September 2006 he turned himself in to the Office of the National Security Service in Andijan region. The circumstances of his return to Uzbekistan remain unknown. In February 2007, the Andijan Regional Court sentenced him to six years in prison under the Articles 159 (attempt on the Constitutional order), 216 (illegal organisation of public associations), 223 (illegal travel abroad), 244-1 (distribution of materials containing a threat to public safety) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. On 15 July 2012 the second sentence under the Article 221 (disobedience to the legitimate demands of the administration of penal institutions) was passed, resulting in extension of his prison term for another three years. The 61 years old prisoner, Isroiljon Kholdarov, 2^nd group disabled, remains in custody in conditions that harm his health. The acts of amnesty did not apply to his case.

The Association “Human Rights in Central Asia” - AHRCA calls upon the international community to intervene in the situation of the prisoners who remain in custody in defiance of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan: solitary confinement as a way of punishment of the prisoners Fayzullo Agzamov

The family of the prisoner Fayzullo Agzamov have been unsuccessfully trying to get a permission to visit him for the last 10 months. In response to 3 attempts to visit him, they were told that he was in a solitary confinement. Such penalties are usually followed by a new term of imprisonment.

Fayzullo Agzamov was born in 1969. In 2001 he was sentenced to 17 years in prison. He was charged under the Articles 159 (attempts to constitutional order of Republic of Uzbekistan), 242 (organisation of criminal community) 244-2 (establishment, direction of or participation in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist or other banned organisations) of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. Since 2010, he is serving a sentence at UYA 64/71 in the village of Zhaslyk (Karakalpakstan).

From 2007 to 2010 he served time in prison UYA 64/T-1 in the Andijan region, where, as a result of torture, his leg was broken. In 2011, the Andijan prison was disbanded and renamed as Prison UYA64/SI-14 of the Main Directorate of Administrating Punishment. Its building was occupied by the regional pre trial detention facility, which, formerly, was one of the units of the prison. The convicts were transferred to other institutions of the penitentiary system.

In May 2012 Fayzullo Agzamov’s wife came to visit him and saw bruises in his body. He did not explain how they were inflicted, for fear that any investigation into the incident will result in a ban on visits by his loved ones and the perpetrators would not be punished. According to his wife, he does not look like a troublemaker because he feels pain in the chest and is very weak.

On 6 January 2013 his son came to visit Agramov, however, the meeting did not take place, because the prisoner was again in the solitary confinement.

On 21 January 2013 Agzamov’s family made an application to the Main Directorate of Administrating Punishment for a permission to visit him. But they received a reply that his is again in the solitary confinement, as a punishment.

On 9 February 2013 his family made another application, this time for two days, for a family visit. However, as it turned out, he was again in the solitary confinement, as a punishment.

To be in the solitary confinement, as a punishment, for three times, is a direct path to a new term of imprisonment. This is a common practice. The inability to learn the fate of Fayzullo Agzamov tends to restrict his right to defence, including, from torture and other degrading treatment.

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia - AHRCA expresses concern about the fate of Fayzullo Agzamov and calls for access of the International Committee of the “Red Cross” to him, to ensure his freedom from torture and the right to protection.

Copy to:

          UN Special Rapporteur on Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment,

           EU Special Rapporteur on Human Rights,

           EU Special rapporteur on the Central Asia,

           international human rights organisations.

No More Andijans!

Stop the Sale of Military Hardware to Uzbekistan!

According to “The Times” (Feb 8.2103), the British Ministry of Defence plans to sell military hardware leftover from Afghanistan that is not worth repatriating to Britain to Uzbekistan. We were surprised that the British government considered only narrow financial and geostrategic considerations in this regard, and not legitimate human rights concerns.

It has also come to light that Uzbekistan is seeking to buy combat equipment, including armoured vehicles and military helicopters from the U.S., UK and Germany.

In what military campaign will Uzbekistan use these weapons systems?

History shows that the Karimov regime had no compunction against using military vehicles and helicopters against its own people. According to various independent sources, between 500 and 700 people, including women and children, were killed when government forces shot into crowds of peaceful protesters in Andijan in May 2005.  The government troops deployed Soviet-made armoured personnel carriers (BTR), while a reconnaissance helicopter was used to define targets before the massacre.

Should new mass protests break out in Uzbekistan, which is becoming more likely every day due to the Uzbek population’s growing discontent with Islam Karmov’s corrupt and repressive regime, there is no doubt that military equipment will again be used against civilians. Whatever promises it makes to Western governments, this time the ruling regime will most certainly employ any military equipment sold to Uzbekistan by Britain, the U.S. or Germany should it see fit to do so.  Should this happen, the responsibility for a new massacre will have to be shared by the governments of the countries that supplied these weapons. If at new tragedy happens, the personalities who initiated this trade deal, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Defence Minister Philip Hammond, should share responsibility for the outcomes of their decision.

It is still not too late to stop these deals. We, therefore, call upon the members of the British Parliament to disapprove of any sale of weapons systems to Uzbekistan and to appoint a commission that would consider the range of the proposed arms and military equipment for sale to determine whether it can be used against civilians.

We urge the U.S. government and the government of Germany to take similar measures to prevent the sale of lethal or dual-use military equipment to Uzbekistan.

The governments of these three countries have to prioritise human rights concerns when considering the sale of weapons to Uzbekistan’s authoritarian regime, which is known for its dire human rights record and total disregard for the lives of ordinary people.

Signatories,

Uzbekistan

1. Nadejda Atayeva, President, Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, France. 
2. Jodgor Obid, Poet, Member of the International Pen Club, Austria.
3. Dilarom Iskhakova, Poetess, Uzbekistan
4. Ismail Dadajanov, Chairman, Democratic Forum of Uzbekistan, Sweden
5. Sanjar Umarov, Leader, Coalition “Sunshine Uzbekistan”, USA
6. Mukhammad Salikh, Leader, “Erk” Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Norway
7. Nigara Khidoyatova, Political figure, Uzbekistan
8. Abdujalil Boymatov, Chairman, Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Ireland
9. Alisher Taksanov, Independent Journalist, Switzerland
10. Bashorat Eshova, Coordinator, Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Switzerland
11. Sergey Ignatyev, Coordinator, Project “Arts and Human Rights”, Association of Human Rights in Central Asia, USA
12. Natalya Bushuyeva, Editor-in-Chief, Radio Programme “SOS”, Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, Sweden
13. Kudrat Babajanov, Journalist, Sweden
14. Gulshan Karayeva, Chairperson, Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan in the Qashqadarya province, Uzbekistan
15. Tulkin Karaev, Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Sweden
16. Khusan Temirov, Human Rights Defender for freedom of conscience, Sweden
17. Mukhiddin Kurbanov, International Organisation of Human Rights Activists, Sweden
18. Daniel Anderson, Political refugee, Norway
19. David Anderson, Political refugee, Norway
20. Avaz Fayazov, International Organisation, “Human Rights Defenders”, Sweden
21. Bayramali Yusupov, Political refugee, Denmark
22. Rafik Ganiev, Human Rights Society “Ezgulik”, Sweden
23. Nabidjan Narbutayev, Political Party “Birlik”, Sweden
24. Mukhammadsalikh Abutov, Organisation “Tayanch”, Sweden
25. Khusniddin Kutbiddinov, Independent journalist, Uzbekistan
26. Ulugbek Khaydarov, Journalist, Laureate of the Hellman – Hammett international human rights award, Canada
27. Shukhrat Ganiev, Director, Humanitarian Legal Centre, Coordinator of the Central Asian network of protection of human rights defenders, Uzbekistan
28. Khatam Khadjimatov, Human Rights defender, Norway
29. Ulugbek Zaynabitdinov, Political Party “Birlik”, Sweden
30. Mirakhmat Muminov, Human Rights Defender for freedom of conscience, USA
31. Farkhodkhon Mukhtarov, Member, Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
32. Oleg Sarapulov, Member, Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
33. Dilora Rakhimova, Human Rights Defender, Sweden
34. Alisher Abidov, Citizen of Uzbekistan
35. Zulfia Abidova, Citizen of Uzbekistan
36. Abbos Ikramov, Citizen of Uzbekistan
37. Nazim Khodjiev, Citizen of Uzbekistan
38. Sabir Makhkamov, Citizen of Uzbekistan
39. Bakhodir Kadyrov, Citizen of Uzbekistan
40. Umid Dekhkanbayev, Citizen of Uzbekistan
41. Akmal Jamalov, Citizen of Uzbekistan
42. Davron Muminov, Citizen of Uzbekistan
43. Mukhabbat Pozilova, Citizen of Uzbekistan
44. Tashpulat Yuldashev, Political Scientist, USA
45. Darya Episova, Independent Journalist, USA
46. Atkham Shaymardanov, Ecologist and Human Rights Defender, Uzbekistan
47. Akhmadjon Normirzayev, Human Rights Defender, Uzbekistan
48. Elena Bondar, Independent Journalist, Uzbekistan
49. Salomatoy Boymatova, Member, Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan
50. Abdulkosim Mamarasulov, Human Rights Defender, Jazzakh province 
51. Lutfullo Shamsutdinov, Chairman, Andijan branch, Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan (IHROU)
52. Nodir Akhatov, Chairman, Qarshi city branch, Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan 

Russia

53. Dmitriy Belomestnov, Representative, Association for Human Rights in Central Asia in Russia
54. Sergey Kovalev, Chairman, Executive Board, Russia’s “Memorial” Society, Member of the Executive Board of the “Memorial” International Society, Chairman of Andrei Sakharov Foundation, Moscow
55. Lev Ponomaryov, Professor, Executive Director, All-Russian movement “For Human Rights”, Moscow
56. Evgeniy Ikhlov, Responsible Secretary, Public Expert Board of the All-Russian movement “For Human Rights”, Moscow
57. Priest Gleb Yakunin, Public Committee “For Freedom of Conscience”, Moscow
58. Valentin Gefter, General Director, Human Rights Institute, Moscow
59. Elena Ryabinina, Head, Programme “Right to Asylum” Human Rights Institute, Moscow
60. Gleb Kirillov, Kostroma Regional Branch, All-Russian Public Movement “For Human Rights”, Kostroma
61. Alexander Podrabinek, former political prisoner, human rights defender, journalist, Moscow
62. Daniil Kislov, Editor-in-Chief, International Information Agency “Ferghana.Ru” 

Azerbaijan

63. Leyla Yunus, Peace and Democracy Institute, Baku
64. Khikmet Khadjizade, FAR Centre, Baku
65. Matanat Azizova, Women’s Crisis Centre, Baku
66. Khafiz Safikhanov, Chairman, Non-governmental Association “Azerbaijan Campaign Against Mines” 
67. Zakhir Amanov, newspaper “Janub Heberleri”
68. Rasul Jafarov, Human Rights Club
69. Ilgar Gasimov, ”Legal Aid”, Lenkoran city
70. Mekhman Aliyev, News Agency “Turan”
71. Anar Mamedli, Election Monitoring and Democracy Training Centre
72. Mirvari Gabramanli, Organisation for Protection of the Rights of Oil Workers
73. Elchin Bekhbudov, Zerbaijan Committee Against Torture 
74. Intigam Aliyev, Legal Education Centre
75. Leyla Aliyeva, Strategic and International Studies Centre
76. Khilal Mamedov, newspaper “Tolishi Sado”
77. Emin Guseinov, Freedom and Security for Reporters Institute 
78. Annaji Khasibeyli, Association of Lawyers of Azerbaijan
79. Alekper Mamedov, Centre for Democratic and Civil Control over Military Forces
80. Shakir Agayev, Newspaper “Novoye Vremya”

Armenia

81. Mikael Daniliyan, Head, Armenian Helsinki Committee, Erevan

Germany

82. Bernhard Clasen, Journalist

Kazakhstan

83. Zauresh Battalova, President, Public Foundation “Parliamentarianism Development in Kazakhstan”, Astana city
84. Bakhytzhan Toregozhina, President, Public Foundation “Ar.Ruh,Hak”, Almaty city
85. Galym Ageleulov, President, Public Foundation, “Liberty”, Almaty city
86. Lukpana Akhmedyarov, Editor-in-Chief, Newspaper “Uralskaya Nedelya”, Uralsk city
87. Baktygul Kanatov, Director, Public Foundation “For Justice”, Aktobe city
88. Amangeldy Shomanbayev, Human Rights Defender, Almaty city
89. Askar Shaygumarov, Human Rights Defender, Non-governmental Association “Western Kazakhstan Union of Orphanage Inmates”, Uralsk city
90. Kseniya Ermaganbetova, Human Rights Defender, Acting Director, NGO “Dialogue Plus”, Karaganda city
91. Aytkozha Fazylova, Public figure, Karaganda city
92. Roslana Taukina, Director, Foundation “Journalisti v Bede” (Journalists in Trouble), Almaty city
93. Irina Savostina, Chairperson, Pensioners’ Movement Regional Non-governmental Association “Generation”, Almaty city
94. Ramzan Esergepov, Chairman, Executive Board, Non-Governmental Foundation “Journalists in Trouble”, Almaty city
95. Dametken Alenova, Chairperson, Public Association “Women’s Movement of Kazakhstan”, Almaty city
96. Fatima Djandosova, Development Director, Magazine “Umniye veshchi” (Smart Things), Almaty city

Kyrgyzstan

97. Sardar Bagishbekov, Chairman, Non-governmental Foundation “Voice of Freedom”www.vof.kg, Bishkek city 

Norway

98. Adam Arvigson, citizen of Norway
99. Bjorn Eriksson, citizen of Norway
100. Knut Koasa, citizen of Norway
101. Kjol Peterson, citizen of Norway

Poland

102. Ludmila Kozlowska, President, “Open Dialogue” Foundation

Turkmenistan

103. Farid Tukhbatullin, Chairperson, Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR), Austria
104. Vyacheslav Mamedov, Chairman, Democratic Civil Union of Turkmenistan, The Netherlands
105. Timur Misrikhanov, Chairperson, Union of Independent Lawyers of Turkmenistan

Tajikistan

106. M. Sharifi, Human Rights Defender
107. Gulnora Ravshan, Journalist

Ukraine

108. Oleksiy Tolkachov, President, European Association of Ukrainians, Kiev

France

109. Natalya Gorbanevskaya, Russian poetess, translator, Human Rights Defender, former political prisoner, Participantsof the Dissident Movement of the USSR
110. Hadijat Gadaeva, Human Rights Defender


Collection of signatures is continuing. You can express your opinion on the site of AVAAZ here:
https://secure.avaaz.org/en/petition/No_More_Andijans_Stop_the_Sale_of_Military_Hardware_to_Uzbekistan/