The leader of Birdamlik movement goes back to Uzbekistan
Bakhodir Choriev, Uzbek political emigrant and the leader of Birdamlik (Solidarity) movement, decided to go back to Uzbekistan and continue his political activity at home. This is indicated in his letter, directed to Ferghana.Ru.
Reminding that Birdamlik movement started its activity in Uzbekistan on October 10, 2004 Choriev says that “today, the organization is officially registered in USA, Norway, Sweden as well as functions in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, including autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan”.
Bakhodir Choriev
The political emigrant is complaining that Birdamlik was not able to organize the congress, scheduled to December of 2008. The congress of the active members was cancelled due to the fact that, according to Mr. Choriev, the leaders of the movement received threatening messages from authorities. It has to be mentioned that the attempt of Birdamlik to organize mass demonstrative of people in white dresses in several cities of Uzbekistan also failed. The authorities never stopped persecuting the Birdamlik members and “in this challenging time”, Choriev, the leader of Birdamlik, “made a decision to continue struggle abreast his comrades in Uzbekistan”.
The news about the return of Choriev reminds the recent story with well-known Turkmen dissident Gulgeldy Ananniyazov, which decided to come back home last year in order to help newly elected President improve the life in the country. His best endeavors failed: entering the country he was immediately arrested by Turkmen special services and sentenced to 11 years of prison. Nonetheless, it seems like Bakhodir Choriev is not lost in this situation.
“Today, prior to my return home I have clear action plan, but I have no clue about the reaction of the government. It may come out that I will be accused of something. On the other hand, I may also safely arrive home, start executing my rights and political activity under the current law”, says Birdamlik leader. “Having the air ticket for October 16, I realized that not only I am missing it so much but I must support my partners”.
The conflict between Choriev and the government of Uzbekistan started once the authorities took his business away. Bakhodir Choriev left Uzbekistan after feeling that his family is threatened: on June 1, 2004 interior ministry officers kidnapped his son in order to force the dissident stop his activity and, specifically, to prevent the meeting, demanding the resignation of President Islam Karimov. In May of the same year, Choriev was seized and assaulted. He was dropped off in the remote region and the assaulters took away his Daewoo Nexi, the only source of income. “It took me long time to make a decision to leave the country, where I felt as a slave, but believed this would be unfair in relation to my partners, friends and Motherland. However, when it got really touch and dangerous for my family to stay in the country, I made uneasy decision to leave”, he shared in the interview to Ferghana.Ru. Today, Bakhodir Choriev resides in USA where he got political asylum.
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