FIDH. Nurali Ko’lobov, Abdumurod Norboyev.14.12.2011.
URGENT APPEAL – THE OBSERVATORY
UZB 003 / 1211 / OBS 139
Harassment / Arbitrary detention /
Sentencing
Uzbekistan
December 14, 2011
The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme of the
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World Organisation Against
Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the following situation in Uzbekistan.
Description of the situation:
The Observatory has been informed by reliable sources of acts of harassment and arbitrary
arrest of several human rights defenders, including members of the Human Rights Society of
Uzbekistan (HRSU) and of the human rights organisation “Ezgulik” across Uzbekistan, in a
context in which they are falsely assimilated to members of the opposition.
According to the information received, on December 7, 2011, members of the opposition
organised an action of mobilisation in Tashkent on the occasion of the commemoration of the
19th anniversary of the Uzbek Constitution.
On the same day, the houses of Ms. Saida Kurbanova, Chairwoman of Pahtakor district
branch of HRSU, and of human rights defender Bakhtior Khamroev were surrounded by
security forces. On that day, police lieutenant Kayumov Komil came five times to Ms.
Kurbanova’s home, although the latter had already left to Tashkent.
In the town of Karshi (Kashkadarya district), the houses of Ms. Gulshan Karaeva,
representative of HRSU in Kashkadarya region, and of Mr. Nadyr Akatov, a member of
HRSU, were also surrounded by security forces on December 7 and 8.
In the same district, Mr. Nurali Kulabov, another member of HRSU, was arrested by special
forces on December 7 around 19.00 on the district central square where he organised, along
with “Ezgulik” member Adbdumurod Norboev, a picket to protest against electricity and gas
issues, and were detained at the Chirakchi district police precinct. Mr. Kubalov was not
allowed to meet with his relatives, who were in addition not allowed to attend the trial that
took place on December 9. Mr. Nurali Kulabov was sentenced by the Chirakchi Penal
Regional Court to a 15-day administrative detention, and Mr. Abdumurod Norboev to a 10-
day administrative detention.
On the same dates, several members of the newly-created branch of HRSU in Namangan
province also had their houses surrounded by special forces, as had other HRSU members
from Bukhara (around Andijan).
The Observatory strongly denounces these acts of harassment against the human rights
defenders mentioned above, which obviously aim at hampering their human rights activities,
in a context where they are falsely assimilated to members of the opposition.
Actions requested :
Please write to the Uzbek authorities, urging them to :
i. Take all necessary measures to guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and
psychological integrity of Ms. Saida Kurbanova, Mr. Bakhtior Khamroev, Ms. Gulshan
Karaeva, Mr. Nadyr Akatov, Mr. Nurali Kulabov, Mr. Adbdumurod Norboev and more
generally of all human rights defenders in Uzbekistan;
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ii. Release Mr. Nurali Kulabov and Mr. Adbdumurod Norboev immediately and
unconditionally as their detention is arbitrary;
iii. Put an end to any act of harassment – including at the judicial level – against Ms. Saida
Kurbanova, Mr. Bakhtior Khamroev, Ms. Gulshan Karaeva, Mr. Nadyr Akatov, Mr. Nurali
Kulabov, Mr. Adbdumurod Norboev and more generally of all human rights defenders in
Uzbekistan;
iv. Comply with the provisions of the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, in
particular:
– its Article 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually or collectively, to
promote the protection and fulfilment of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the
national and international levels”,
– as well as its Article 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary
measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually or
in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure
adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her
legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the present Declaration”;
v. Comply with the provisions of the Document of the Copenhagen Meeting of the 2nd
Conference on the Human Dimension of the Cooperation and Security Conference in Europe
(CSCE) (1990), and guarantee the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms in
accordance with the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and other international human
rights instruments ratified by Uzbekistan.
Addresses :
· Mr. Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov President of Uzbekistan, ul. Uzbekistanskaya 43,
Rezidentsia prezidenta, 700163 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Fax: +998 71 133 1395325. E-mail:
presidents_office@press-service.uz
· Mr. Bahodir Matliubov, Minister of Internal Affairs; ul. Junus Rajabiy 1; Tashkent 700029,
Uzbekistan. Fax: + 998 71 233 89 34. Email: mvd@mvd.uz, info@mvd.uz,
secretariyat@mvd.uz
· Mr. Rashidjon Hamidovich Kodirov, General Prosecutor of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ul.
Gulamova 66, 700047 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Fax: +998 71 133 39 17. E-mail:
prokuratura@lawyer.com
· Mr. Vladimir Norov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, pl. Mustakillik, 5; Tashkent 700029,
Uzbekistan. Fax: + 998 71 139 15 17. E-mail: rnews@mfa.uz
· Ms. Sayora Rashidova, Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights, ul. Xalqlar Dostligi
1, 700035 Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Fax: +998 71 139 85 55. E-mail:
office@ombudsman.gov.uz
· Senator Akmal Saidov, Natsionalny Tsentr po pravam cheloveka / National Centre for
Human Rights, Mustakillik Maidoni 5/3, 700029 Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan Fax: +
998 71 139 13 56 / 45 16, E-mail: office@nchr.uz
· Head of the Nukus City Department of Internal Affairs (police), Glave GOVD, Gorodskoi
Otdel Vnutrennikh Del, ul. Biruni, g. Nukus, AR Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan.
· H.E Ms. Goulnora Karimova, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent
Mission of Uzbekistan to the United Nations in Geneva, International Centre Cointrin (ICC),
Bloc G (7th Floor), Route de Pré-Bois 20, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland. Fax: +41 22 799
43 02. Email: uzbekistan@bluewin.ch
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Uzbekistan in your respective countries
as well as to the EU diplomatic missions or embassies in Uzbekistan.
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Paris-Geneva, December 14, 2011
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
· E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org
· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0) 1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80
· Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29
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