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 55th 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 1st
and 2nd 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 2nd category, he has 4th
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 2nd
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 2nd
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 1st 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 1st 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 5th 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 2nd 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
