Front Line is seriously concerned by new reports of the deteriorating health conditions of human rights defender Norboy Kholjigitov, former President of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU), Ishtikhan district.

Further Information

On 18 October 2005, the Samarkand Regional Criminal Court sentenced Norboy Kholjigitov to ten years’ imprisonment.

According to family members who have visited him in prison, his condition has worsened. He has diabetes and his blood sugar levels have become very high. As a result,he has lost mobility in his left hand and foot.

On the 24th of July 2009, his family visited prison 64/49 in Karshi City where he is currently being held. According to his wife Burigul Holjigitova, her husband’s health has deteriorated since her last visit and he is now gravely ill. As a result of his condition, he has only one tooth left,parts of his face and two of his toes are black and his lips have become blue. Subsequently, he has become depressed.

Although, he has been ill with diabetes for the last four years while in prison, prison authorities and Uzbek officials have refused to include him in the amnesty of prisoners which occurs every year.

This year on the 23rd of June, he was charged with violating prison regulations and thus ineligable for release under the amnesty this year. Under Uzbek Law all prisoners with ongoing medical conditions should be released from prison to have their condition properly treated. Human Rights Defender, Norboy Holjigitov, remains in Prison.

Front Line believes that Norboy Kholjigitov’s continuous detention and his ill-treatment in prison is directly related to his work as a human rights defender. Since the last urgent appeal issued by Front Line, the health conditions of Norboy Kholjigitov have worsened.

Previous Front Line Urgent Appeal on behalf of Norboy Kholjigitov