Uzbekistan: Relatives of political exiles facing pressure

The authorities in Uzbekistan are threatening the relatives of political exiles who have criticized

Islam Karimov

Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s upcoming visit to Brussels.

The Association for Human Rights in Uzbekistan has received messages from three separate sources who say members of the National Security Service (SNB) are stepping up pressure on relatives of people who have left the country for political reasons. In one instance, unidentified people visited a family at home and told them that their “relatives in Sweden” should stay quiet. In another, threats were made that a young man would be thrown out of university if his brother, a political exile, didn’t shut his mouth. In a third instance, threats were made to investigate a business.

All incidents were linked to Karimov’s upcoming official visit to Brussels.

It’s not the first time the SNB has used such tactics to influence dissidents living abroad.  Staff at the embassy of Uzbekistan in Brussels filmed a protest organised by the Belgian Association for Democratic Changes and Defense of Minorities in Uzbekistan in 2004. After the protest, members of the SNB started visiting relatives of the protestors living in Uzbekistan. The agents showed relatives photographs of their family members holding placards at the protest and forced them to write letters to Belgium asking their relatives not to participate in any more such events.

In March 2005, non-governmental groups from Uzbekistan reported these events in their alternative report on civil and political rights to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. As a result, the editor-in-chief of the Free Uzbekistan website in Belgium, Valery Petrenko, halted his own activities for security reasons, as did other members of the website. Since then, the practice of using threats has continued. Especially targeted are the owners of opposition and human rights websites and anyone criticising the authorities in Uzbekistan.

The Association for Human Rights in Uzbekistan has noted that instances of threats against the relatives of political exiles have increased ahead of President Karimov’s visit to Brussels. On January 24, he is scheduled to meet with the leadership of the European Union and NATO as well as King Albert II of Belgium. Uzbekistan watchers found out about the visit through private channels, not through any official releases made by the Belgian government or the European Union. Only after criticism from rights defenders and journalists did the press department of the European Commission confirm the date of Karimov’s visit to Brussels, and the Commission has been notably unhelpful to journalists enquiring about the meeting, providing little if any details and planning no press conference after the meeting, which is highly unusual for a visiting head-of-state.

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia

Centre MBE 140, 16, rue de Docteur Leroy, 72000 Le Mans FRANCE

Tel.: +(33) 6 49 38 86 59; E-Mail:asiecentrale@neuf.fr

Karimov will visit Brussels January 24, but incognito, through the back door

Islam Karimov

We reported earlier that Uzbek dictator Islam Karimov is coming to Brussels on January 31. The Press Department of the European Commission have confirmed the visit, but named the date as January 24.

Islam Karimov will be received by the king of Belgium, Albert II, and will also have a meeting at NATO HQ.

The secrecy surrounding the arrival of the Uzbek dictator is understandable: if the European Council were to publicize the visit, they would have to give a public explanation for the motivation behind inviting the dictator, and would have to accredit journalists who would cover the visit and ask relevant questions.  

We regret that in preparing the visit of the Uzbek dictator the Council of Europe is forced to go against its own principles of openness, publicity and transparency. We hope that this secretive approach does not become the rule in the EU’s dealings with Uzbekistan.  

Is the European Union opening its doors to dictators?

Reliable sources have informed us that the Council of the European Union has invited Uzbek President Islam Karimov on an official visit to Brussels. The visit is to take place on January 31, 2011. Mr Karimov’s birthday is on January 30, and the invitation will make a pleasant present for one of the world’s most vicious dictators.

Islam Karimov is the first contemporary dictator to receive an official invitation to Brussels and shake hands with the heads of the EU.

We would like to remind the organizers of this meeting and the global community of President Islam Karimov’s record:

1)  13 May 2005 government troops, following Karimov’s orders, used indiscriminate and disproportional violence to put down a demonstration. As a result one hundred civilians were killed, including children. Hundreds of innocent people are in prison for the sole reason that they dared to go to Boburov Square that day to protest against violations of their civil rights.

2)  38 human rights activists, writers and journalists are in prison in Uzbekistan for attempting to practice their fundamental right to freedom of speech.

3)  Thousands of Muslims are in prison because their religious views do not coincide with the state’s version of Islam.

4)  People held in prison as suspects or convicts are tortured to give false statements. The Uzbek authorities make every effort to conceal the number of victims, but according to human rights activists 39 people died in 2010 alone through torture in prisons. The authorities hide the real number.

5)  Child labour continues to be exploited in the cotton industry. Children’s rights to education and health are abused.

6)   Uzbekistan has no freedom of speech, thought or peaceful assembly.

7)   Islam Karimov has ruled the country continuously for 21 years, ignoring the constitutional principle for democratically changing a country’s ruler.

8)   Presidential and parliamentary elections are not democratic. Opposition parties are refused registration and are not allowed to campaign freely. Parliament only includes parties created and controlled by the authorities.

This list of abuses committed by President Karimov is by no means full, but it does beg the question:

• Does the visit undermine the international reputation of the EU?
• Is there an understanding in the European Parliament, among Belgian citizens and in other EU countries that the official visit of a man guilty of the suffering of thousands of Uzbeks opens the way for other dictator’s too?
• Who next from the 'World Dictator's Club' will have the honour of an official invitation to the capital of democratic Europe?

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia

Centre MBE 140, 16, rue de Docteur Leroy, 72000 Le Mans FRANCE

Tel.: +(33) 6 49 38 86 59; E-Mail:asiecentrale@neuf.fr

Kyrgyzstan: increase in attacks on ethnic Uzbeks

The Osh office of the members of the ‘International independent commission for the investigation of the June events in the sourth of Kyrgyzstan’ closed on December 9 2010. The commission also responded to the claims of people who suffered in the next half year. Immediately after the commission left attacks and other illegal actions against ethnic Uzbeks increased, with members of the security services and civilians taking part. Below are some of the testimonies we have received from victims.   

Muzaffar Rahmatullaevich wrote to us on December 1 2010. His date of birth is January 13, 1976. He is a citizen of Kyrgyzstan, and lives in the city of Osh.

December 1 2010, on Gagarin Street, our car was overtaken and stopped by ethnic Kyrgyz whom we had never met before. They said they were staff members of the criminal investigation department of the Osh City GUVD (Main Department of the Interior Ministry). They illegally arrested myself and three of my friends and took us to the GUVD of the city of Osh, where we placed in the isolation ward. There members of the special forces unit placed us in a ‘G’ position (our heads against the wall) and beat us. They beat us on our torsos and legs so as to not leave marks. They constantly threatened that if we told anyone they would find and kill us. Apart from us there were another 15 people there. They wanted to accuse us of crimes we did not commit. They were not able to extract any statements from us and moved us to the GSNB (State Service of National Security) of the city of Osh.

Again we were beaten for no reason. I was heavily beaten. They threatened to put me on an electric chair and proceeded to do this. Then they poured water over my head. They said they would beat all the Uzbeks in turn and then charge them with various crimes. I was released at 0030. I could not take the steering wheel due to pain in my chest. I took a taxi home and left my car by the GUVD. The next day my friends went to get the car, and had to pay 20 000 Som (500 USD), to get it back. As far as I know,  the names of some of the members of the GUVD and GSNB of Osh are: Urmat, Omurbek, Marat and Asilbek. Next I went to the doctor to complain of pains in my breast cage. He sent me for an x-ray. It was discovered I had two cracked ribs. They also recorded several bumps and bruises. 

On the photo is part of a leg where we see torture marks. The victim had molten nails pressed to his body to force them to give false evidence. To safeguard the victim we do not reveal their name and only show part of the photo.

According to a witness, 5 people were arrested on December 11 2010 by aggressively inclined members of the police and people in civilian clothes. On December 11 2010, at around 0930, in the suburb of Amir Temur, members of the traffic police of the city of Osh stopped a Mercedes Benz Universal driven by its owner Egamberdi Pazilov. The traffic police immediately began to search the automobile. They then falsely accused him of having a riflescope form a sniper rifle. A short while later, at around 12:30-1300 they conducted a search at his home. They found nothing illegal at Agamberdi Pazilov’s home and arrested his nephew, Yusufbek Pazilov, for no reason. They accused him of being involved in a crime, but did not say what this crime was. His parents came to the police station, they were also told that he was a criminal without explaining anything.   When members from the Department of the Interior Ministry were passing through the suburb of Amir Temur on their way back to their station, they arrested the completely innocent  Abdullo (surname unknown). His location is still not known. This arrest was made by traffic police and civilians in a ‘Daewoo-Nexia’ taxi.

Abidjan Ahundjanov (DoB: March 8, 1934, born in the village of Shark, Karasujsk Area of the city of Osh) wrote to us on December 13 2010. He is a carpenter who has worked in Kyrgyzstan for forty years. He has raised six children, all of them educated people. 

On December 9, 2010, Abidjan Ahundjanov got on bus number 2 at the ‘State University’ stop, heading towards the south-east. He was hurrying home to make it to mosque for afternoon prayers. There were around fifty people on the bus. He was minding his own business and not paying attention to the other people on the bus. As soon as the bus got going he noticed some aggressively inclined persons had taken notice of him. Several people said to him: ‘What are you doing here, go home to your Uzbekistan!’

Ahundjanov answered that he had grown up here and was in his homeland. One young man started to beat him with all his might. He was beaten all over his body, especially on his head and face. Others simply observed  the beating. In answer to the question why he hadn’t appealed for help straight away Ahundjanov answered: ‘I felt helpless in the face of this injustice. After having given so many years to this country, to this city, I was suddenly a stranger…’

Specialists examined Ahundjanov at the city hospital and discovered he had concussion and marks from a beating. The OSCE, Human Rights Watch, Human Rights in Central Asia (France), Kalim Shami (Kyrgyzstan) were informed of this attack. 

Barno Raimdjanova appealed to us on 14 December 2010. Her date of birth is September 21, 1968. She is a citizen of Kyrgyzstan and lives in the Karasujsk area, Shark village council. She is a teacher, and works in the L. Tolstoy middle school.

 In her testimony she writes:

’12 December 2010 I went outside and saw two 16 year old Uzbek lads, my pupils, held up by a gang of Kyrgyz. I had to get involved when I heard them calling for help. I asked what was going on and was told to mind my own business. Then this group took me hostage until my pupils would bring their passports. My pupils left and I was called names I am ashamed to even mention. I was called a ‘sart’ (In Kyrgyzstan this word is used to humiliate Uzbeks, it means ‘settler’-ed.), and was told that us Uzbeks should die and we had no place in Kyrgyzstan. Then I was hit all over my body. I lost consciousness. I came to in the Osh Regional Hospital.’

Mahlie Umurzakova (DoB September 14, 1994) also wrote to us on December 14 2010. She is a citizen of Kyrgyzstan.

She wrote:

‘ December 13, 2010, I went to the market to go  shopping. There two Kyrgyz girls caught hold of me and placed a knife against my body. They threatened to kill me. They cursed me and said that there is no place for Uzbeks in Kyrgyzstan. I lost consciousness from their blows. They robbed me of 500 Som and left me by the bank of the river Uvam. My mother found me two hours later.’

On December 15 2010 alone our organization received 12 phone calls from victims in the south of Kyrgyzstan and their relatives. They related that anyone who looks Uzbek is stopped by the security services and arrested for any reason. Some are ‘found’ to have bullets on them. Others have something wrong with their documents, then they have to pay a bribe to be released. Often the reason for an attack is that an Uzbek has received help from an international body: a television, warm clothes, carpets, temporary accommodation. 

When victims are beaten they are humiliated for receiving these things. They are told that Uzbeks should be liquidated so they don’t receive humanitarian help from abroad. During all the acts of repression and attacks Uzbeks living in Kyrgyzstan are told by the Osh city authorities they have been disowned by Islam Karimov, that OSCE police will not enter the country, and that they can do whatever they want with the Uzbeks. Arrested Uzbeks hear this sort of thing even in the GUVD (Interior Ministry) offices. The security services always insult the Uzbeks by their nationality. Civilians attack Uzbeks right in front of bureaucrats and with the help of police. Both civilians and authorities conceal their names, often simply saying ‘Me: I’m your death’.  


The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia has sent this information to the general prosecutor’s office in Kyrgyzstan, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OSCE and international human rights organizations. 

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia

Centre MBE 140, 16, rue de Docteur Leroy, 72000 Le Mans FRANCE

Tel.: +(33) 6 49 38 86 59; E-Mail:asiecentrale@neuf.fr

Kyrgyzstan: increase in the frequency of kidnappings of women in the city of Osh

Kidnappings of women have become more frequent in the city of Osh.  The victims are ethnic Uzbeks, and are kidnapped in order to extract a ransom or to be defiled. Human rights activist Ravshan Gapirov, who heads the Osh human rights centre ‘Justice-Truth’, has told us of two such kidnappings.

Zulunova Iroda was kidnapped from the street by her home on December 9 2010, approximately at 8:30. Her date of birth is 01.08.1994. She is married. We know the address where she is located. Relatives noticed her disappearance almost immediately and searched until they located her.   December 12, approximately at 1430, Iroda phoned her mother from the town of Aravan, where she had been brought in a white automobile. Iroda’s mental state is critical. She is scared, and feels alarmed all the time.

Iroda said that she was kidnapped by two men and one woman of approximately 40 years, the woman looked like a Kyrgyz. The kidnapping took place in the following way: a car drove up to Iroda with a woman inside, she called Iroda over. Iroda approached, feeling no fear at all, and was sprayed in the face with an unknown substance, whereupon she lost consciousness.

Iroda cannot tell where she was held or for how long. She was savagely beaten, by the   woman especially, and was forced to take unknown medicines. Iroda has a bruise on her head, her shoulders have marks from a beating, there are knife wounds on her neck. Iroda says she was transported for a long time, she could hear the sound of water.

Nigora Maksudova was kidnapped October 30, 2010. She lives in Osh, on K. Datka Street. A few hours later she was found in a bad state in the suburb of Manas.

We know of other kidnappings of Uzbek women in November: one went missing from the territory of the merchandise market, another in the Shahid-tepe area, a third on Amur Timur Street. All of them ask not to be named, as they fear retribution from the kidnappers.

All these events took place in different parts of Osh, but rumours travel fast in the town. So far none of these events have led to a criminal investigation. Victims do not want any publicity and are even afraid to go to the hospital. 

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia

Centre MBE 140, 16, rue de Docteur Leroy, 72000 Le Mans FRANCE

Tel.: +(33) 6 49 38 86 59; E-Mail:asiecentrale@neuf.fr

Regarding human rights in Kazakhstan in the year of its presidency of the OSCE

In the next few days the OSCE summit will take place in Kazakhstan, with heads of state and government delegations participating. In 2007, in Madrid, when Kazakhstan assumed the presidency of the OSCE, representatives of Kazakhstan’s government promised to undertake democratic reforms: but the reality has been the opposite.

We, the undersigned, are concerned that the political regime in Kazakhstan is escalating its repression of independent journalists, human rights activists, political opponents and minority religious groups. Below is a list of the most common violations of human rights:

1. Torture in the prison system of Kazakhstan has become ‘a systemic punitive measure of criminal justice’: this is the conclusion of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Manfred Nowak.  The work of human rights activists shows that there are no effective mechanisms for investigating allegations of torture and enacting criminal action against perpetrators.

Usually courts do not accept statements accusing the security services of forcing citizens to give evidence incriminating themselves (they were hit with plastic bottles filled with sand), even when such accusations are backed up with official medical reports.

·      During his investigation the academic and former head of ‘Kazatomprom’ Mukhtar Djakishev was subject to long interrogations, was put under psychological stress and did not receive timely medical assistance. As a result Mukhtar Djakishev was hospitalized. The court did not accept his statement regarding being abused. He is currently imprisoned.    

2. A growing trend for politically motivated criminal cases. The court system is utterly reliant on the executive branch of the state. The courts do not look at any proof of guilt, representatives of the country’s executive branch tell judges which sentence to pass.

·      Journalist Ramazan Esergenov was found guilty of revealing illegal activities at the Kazakhstan Committee for National Security, though formally he was charged with making secret materials public.

·      Human rights activist Evgeniy Zhovtis was found guilty of a crime committed by mistake. Despite the fact that the victims of the mistake have never made a move against E. Zhovtis, he has lost his freedom for four years, and was sent to a prison colony settlement.  During his sentence he is consistently being discriminated against for his beliefs, a breach of UN resolution 45/111, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 14 1990.

·      The academic and former head of ‘Kazatomimport’ Mukhtar Djakishev was sentenced to 14 years for ‘incorrect political contacts’ with the opposition figure M. Ablyazovim. The court’s decision concerning Djakishev is classified, which contradicts Republic of Kazakhstan law. 

·      Human rights activist Ermek Narimbaev was imprisoned for four years after publicly calling for the resignation of President Nursultan Nazarbaev.

The courts only support the prosecution’s version, and disregard the written applications of the defense.

Politically motivated sentences remain in place at every level of the appeals process. 

3.  Obstructing the work of the media, including independent internet portals.

Leading up to the OSCE Summit in Astana the following are suffering abuse:

·      The founding companies of the newspapers and publishers: ‘Shezhire Ltd’, ‘Kiyal & Co’, ADP Ltd, ‘Shabit-info’, DPA, ‘New Press Almaty’, ‘IAC Ayna’. The tax authorities have accused these companies of avoiding paying taxes, though the authorities have not made any of the relevant financial checks.

·      The editorial teams of ‘Vzglyad’,’Azat’, ‘Alga’, ‘Golos Republiki’, ‘Moya Respublika’ and the western Kazakh newspaper ‘Uralskaya Nedelya’
Also:
·      The printing press ‘Kometa S’ was closed, and its director Yulia Kozlova is facing a criminal investigation. She has been accused of artificially lowering the price of the newspaper and its taxable profits. The courts refused to entertain the printer’s retaliatory suit and ignore the defense’s case.  

·      There are many signs that criminal procedures are being prepared against the human rights activist Sergey Utkin and the leader of the unregistered ‘Alga’ party Vladimir Kozlov. Utkin supports the independent printing press that produces the ‘Republika’ newspaper.

4.  Concerning the abuse of political rights

Civil society activists are worried that in May 2011 parliamentary elections are to be held at the same time as an all-national referendum on prolonging the term of the current head of state. In connection with this we want to draw your attention to the artificial obstructions blocking the official registration of the ‘Alga’ Party, as well as its civic groups ‘Alga, D & K’, ‘D.V.K’, ‘Democratia- Vibor Kazhdovo’(‘Democracy- Everyone’s Choice’), ‘Demokratia Beremizge Kerek!’ (‘Everyone Needs Democracy’). The official reason for denying registration is the use of the word ‘democracy’ in the title of these organisations. The Kazakh Ministry of Justice motivates its refusal by claiming that the use of the word ‘democracy’ in the name of a civil society group is a tautology.    

The Kazakh authorities are suppressing political opposition and aim to completely control the elections and referendum. The tax and finance authorities are being used to execute this.     

·      The founder of the civil society group ‘Gastat’ Ajdos Sadikov is being persecuted for the organization of demonstrations defending civil and political rights.

·      On 11 October 2010 an attempt was made on the life of Tahir Muhamedyanov, deputy chairman of the civil society group ‘Shahterskaya Semya’ (Miner’s Family). Tahir actively defends the rights of miners whose health has been damaged as a result of their work. There was an explosion when Tahir went to his garage in the morning. A criminal case was launched, but the signs are that no investigation is taking place.   

5.  Concerning the mass discrimination of religious minorities.

Kazakhstan is breaking all its commitments guaranteeing freedom of religion, thought and assembly. Representatives of minority religious communities are systematically persecuted. Representatives of minority Islamic communities are persecuted as persons allegedly threatening national security, though there are no real proofs of criminal activities.

·      In 2006 over 200 members of an Islamic community left Kazakhstan. Of these 36 were victims of torture. 14 members were accused on false charges. Community members continue to be persecuted, and they continue to emigrate.

The existing law concerning the registration of religious organizations and their activities does not match the Constitution of the Republic and international legal norms. The law bars the activities of certain religious groups. Repression of religious groups and their members continues, including criminal trials of whole groups.

6.  On the violation of UN Conventions against the use of torture. Kazakhstan violates article 3 of the UN Convention against Torture by delivering foreign nationals to governments where torture is systemic and commonplace.

·      As of June 2010 29 Uzbek refugees are being threatened with extradition

·      4 refugees have already been extradited to Uzbekistan. They are not allowed to see lawyers or family.  

We call for the government of Kazakhstan and the heads of the OSCE member states to make their dialogue regarding the observance of the central rights and freedoms fixed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights more effective.

Of particular importance is

— Creating conditions for the work of independent media, including internet publications, and the printing houses working with them. To review Kazakh laws limiting freedom of internet usage and privacy laws.

— Free from prison journalist Ramazan Esergepov; human rights activist Evgeniy Zhovtis; academic and businessman, former head of ‘Kazatomprom’, Mukhtar Djakishev; human rights activist Ermek Narimabev - who have all suffered for their beliefs and professional activities. 

— Lift tax charges against printing houses, independent media, political and civil society activists which have been motivated on political or civic grounds.

— Bring the legislation of Kazakhstan in line with the norms of international law, including the decriminalization of libel, and a reduction in the sums editors and journalists are sued for emotional damages. 

— Create the conditions necessary to implement the recommendations of the UN Special Rapporteur on Torture Manfred Nowak, and the OSCE representative on media freedom Dunja Miyatovich.

Respectfully Yours,

Ludmila Kozlovskaya, deputy director of the Open Dialog, Poland lyudmylakozlovska@odfoundation.eu

Leyla Yunus, director Institute of Peace and Democracy, Azerbaijan ipd1995@gmail.com 

Nadejda Atayeva, president of the Association for Human Rights in Central Asia, France asiecentrale@neuf.fr

Wolgang Templin, Director Heinrich Boell Fund, Poland

Marek Pavlovskiy, member of the Civil Platform party, Poland

Andzhej Schlivisnkij, NGO ‘Molodiye Demokrati’ (Young Democrats), Poland

Hikmet Gadji-Zade, FAR Centre, Azerbaijan

Matanat Azizova, Women’s Crisis Centre, Azerbaijan

Mirvari Gahramanli, Committee for the defense of oil worker’s rights, Azerbaijan

Hafiz Safihanov, Azerbajian Campaign to Ban Land Mines

Ivan Sherstuk, ‘Pora’ party candidate, founder of the ‘Open Dialogue’ Fund, Ukraine-Poland

Levan Zhorbenadze, founder of the ‘Dialogue for Development 2008’ Fund, Georgia

Yaroslav Pristash, editor-in-chief of the publishing house ‘Nashe Slovo’ (Our Word), Poland 

Alexey Tolkachev, president of the European Association of Ukrainians, Ukraine

Arif Yunusov, Conflictologist, Azerbaijan 

Michael Danieliyan, Helsinki Group, Armenia

Igor Vinyavskiy, editor of the ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Jodgor Obid, PEN-Club international member, Austria.

Dmitriy Belomestnov, representative of the ‘Human Rights in Central Asia Association’ in Russia

Diloram Ishakova, representative of ‘Mazlum’ Human Rights Centre, Uzbekistan

Bahtizhan Ketebaev, K-Plus Business Group, chairman of the board of directors, Kazakhstan

Ismail Dadadjanov, chairman of the Democratic Forum of Uzbekistan, Sweden

Hatam Hadjimatov, ‘Vatandosh Project’, http://jakob.clan.su/, author, Norway  

Alisher Taksanov, independent journalist, Switzerland

Bashorat Eshova, representative of the Uzbekistan Human Rights Society in Switzerland

Ulugbek Zajnobidinov, human rights activist, Sweden

Muzaffarmirzo Ishakov, human rights activist, Norway

Nasrullo Saidov, former Uzbek parliamentarian (Upper Council), Canada

Avaz Faizov, representative of the ‘Birlik’ Party, Sweden

David Petrosyan, journalist, informational holding company ‘Noyan Tapan’, Armenia

Tamara Kaleeva, President of the international fund for the freedom of speech ‘Aidil Soyuz’, Kazakhstan

Piotr Niziol, Director of Academic Incubators for Entrepreneurship, Lublin, Poland 

Olga Ushakova, NCO correspondent of the ‘Golos Respubliki’(Voice of the Republic) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Irina Petrushova, editor-in-chief ‘Respublika’ media group, Kazakhstan

Anastasia Novikova, multimedia editor ‘Respublika’, Kazakhstan

Ermurat Bapi, ‘Obschestvinnaya Positsiya’ (The Civic Position) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Ekaterina Nazarenko, editor-in-chief and co-founder ‘Gazeta nashevo goroda, Petropavlovsk kz’ (Our town newspaper, Petropavlovsk KZ), Kazakhstan

Nazira Darimbet, editor ‘Azat’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Nikolaev Nikolai, civic movement ‘InterSoyuz supporting labor migrants’, head of the Volga Basin department, Russia

Andrej Sheketa, chairman of the executive secretariat of the VMOO (Ukrainian Youth Civic Organisation) ‘Batkivschina Moloda’ (The Homeland is Young), Ukraine

Raushan Esergepova, deputy editor ‘Alma-Ata Info’, Kazakhstan

Oksana Makushina, editor ‘S Perom I Shpagoj’ (With a Quill and Sword) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Mikhail Sizov, editor-in-chief, ‘Alga’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Vitaliy Shabunin, head of the Foundation for Regional Initiatives, Ukraine

Sergey Utkin, Lawyer, Kazakhstan

Alexander Solontaj, parliamentarian of the 5th convocation of the Uzhgorod Oblast, expert at the Institute of Political Education, Ukraine

Pavel Sidorenko, head of the VMOO (Ukrainian Youth Civic Organisation) ‘Ukrainian Youth Information Agency’, Ukraine

Viktor Taran, head of the Centre for Political Studies and Analysis, Ukraine

Tatyana Trubacheva, editor ‘Golos Respubliki’ (Voice of the Republic) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Arthur Sakunts, Helsinki Citizens Assembly of Vanadzor, Armenia

Nikolai Suhomlin, media expert, member of the National Union of Journalists, Ukraine

Vladimir Radionov, deputy editor, ‘Vzglyad’ (The View) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Olesya Schelkova, correspondent ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Alexey Gostjev, correspondent, ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Igor Zenin, correspondent, ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Mikhail Korchevskij, correspondent, ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Anastasia Puchkova, correspondent, ‘Vzglyad’ newspaper, Kazakhstan

Sergey Zelepuhin, finance editor, ‘Golos Respubliki’ (Voice of the Republic) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Tatyana Panchenko, social policy editor, ‘Golos Respubliki’ (Voice of the Republic) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Ashat Ahmetbekov, journalist, ‘Golos Respubliki’ (Voice of the Republic) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Larisa Shtaba, journalist, ‘Golos Respubliki’ (Voice of the Republic) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Larisa Chen, Karaganda correspondent, ‘Golos Respubliki’ (Voice of the Republic) newspaper, Kazakhstan

Marianna Gurina, journalist, Kazakhstan

Polina Legina, independent journalist, Kazakhstan

Georgiy Shal, correspondent of internet-publication www.atyraunews.com, Kazakhstan

Ludmila Ekzarhova, journalist, Kazakhstan

Evegeniya Bodrova, journalist, media-portal ‘Stan.tv’, Kazakhstan

Ajsulu Kadirbaeva, social fund ‘Kuretamir’

Igor Kozlov, ‘Civic committee for human rights’, Kazakstan

Sergey Izmailov, ‘Civic Committee for human rights in SKO (North Kazakhstan)’, Kazakhstan

Perizat Kasimov, ‘Centre for the defense of human rights’, Kazakhstan

Yulia Ananyina, ‘Association for the defense of human rights and civic freedoms’, Kazakhstan

Danila Nosenko, ‘Union for the defense of civic rights and freedoms’, Kazakhstan

Hubert Bugajnij, member of the NGO ‘Young Democrats’, Serazh, Poland

Stefan Truschinskij, independent journalist and publicist, Poland

Alexander Zakletskiy, deputy chairman, ‘Ukrainian Youth Environmental League’, environmentalist, Ukraine 

Tulkin Karaev, member of the ‘Society for Human Rights in Uzbekistan’, Sweden 
Muborak Sharipova, Sociologist, PhD, Freelance Consultant on Central Asia and Russia, Co-Founder of Open Asia, Vice-Chairman of Danish Society for Central Asia

Association for Human Rights in Central Asia

Centre MBE 140, 16, rue de Docteur Leroy, 72000 Le Mans FRANCE

Tel.: +(33) 6 49 38 86 59; E-Mail:asiecentrale@neuf.fr