Against Corruption by Uzbekistan.

Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan

S  T  A  T  E  M  E  N  T

in Connection with the Ratification of the Convention of the United Nations against Corruption by Uzbekistan.

It is pleasant that Uzbekistan joined the Convention of the United Nations Organization against Corruption on July, 29th, 2008 which was accepted by the UN on October, 31st, 2003 . Experts from Europe, the United States and Central Asia held in Tashkent an anticorruption seminar from March, 31st till April, 1st organised by UNODC — United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. Radio “Free Europe” informed on May, 21st, 2009 in its on-line edition that Ambassador of the USA in Uzbekistan Richard Norland declared that the United States was ready to render Uzbekistan technical assistance with a view of implication provisions of the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC). In the beginning of April it was informed that the Special Working Group at the State Office of Public Prosecutor of the Republic of Uzbekistan was created to conduct work on preparation of the National Action Plan against Corruption. Except working out of the National Plan the
group intended do additional work on modification of existing criminal, procedural criminal law, and also on preparation of some new regulatory legal acts.
Backing up the given initiatives of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU), nevertheless, sees serious bases to doubt that the the National Action Plan will ever find practical application, as these facts show:
– from the very outlet the policy of the Government of Uzbekistan in all directions was built exclusively on pretense;
– in Uzbekistan separation of powers is not practiced: legislative and judicial organs, and also the so-called «fourth power» – mass media, to put it mildly, are «under the heel» of the executive power;
– until now laws «On Militia”and “On Impeachment of the President of Republic Uzbekistan” are not worked out and adopted including a number of important laws for country’s democratisation;
– the Office of Public Prosecutor, SNB (National Security Service), Militia (Police) and judicial bodies are above the law i.e. who consider that the Constitution and Laws of the country are just paper scraps;
– Opposition parties «Erk», “Birlik” and «Ozod Dehqonlar», human rights organisations and a number of other NGOs cannot legally operate because of the repressive policy of President Islam Karimov.
Also there are negative examples concerning practical application of the accepted three other national plans: the national plan on eradication of tortures by the Uzbek Militia, investigating bodies and colonies of execution of punishments in Uzbekistan, National Action Plan on implementation of the ILO Convention 138 concerning the Minimum Age for Admission to Employment and the United Nations Convention ?182 concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour. These so-called «National Plans» are deadborn because of feigned state policy and such documents like these never have been implemented into life.
We consider that attempting in this manner to improve the human rights image of the Republic, the Government of Uzbekistan is  in reality conducting a policy of deceiting of the entire population of the country and the international community.
Within 18 years after gaining Independence, as a result of President Islam Karimov’s authoritarian rule and policy in every sphere of life, Uzbekistan has appeared among the ten most repressive countries of the world and on 148th place on economic freedom. On corruption level Uzbekistan takes 166th place among 180 countries of the world (2008).
Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU) considers that struggle against corruption is inefficient and will not give essential progress without involving institutes of a civil society and the population in the process. Therefore in order to test the true and earnest intention of the authorities of Uzbekistan, they are recommended to carry out following concrete actions:
1. To release the famous poet, human rights advocate Yusuf Juma, and also other 14 human rights activists (including 9 members of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan), convicted on forged criminal charges;
2. To reconsider all criminal cases against persons, sentenced for political and religious beliefs;
3. To register oppositional political parties “Erk” (Freedom), «Uzbekiston Birlik halq harakati» (Birlik National Movement of Uzbekistan), «Ozod Dehqonlar» (Free Peasants);
4. To stop the practice of prosecution of organizers and participants of peace pickets, meetings, and gatherings;
5. To repeal a residence permit and the exit visa permission acts – those archaic-Soviet era tools violating human rights on a freedom of movement and a residence of choice;
6. To stop the prosecution of independent journalists, human rights advocates, political and religious figures and activists.

Abdujalil Boymatov,
President of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan

28 May 2009

Ph.: 00 353(0) 870 61 4883