That morning, as Lokshina was walking…

Human Rights Watch protests against the persecution of human rights leaders in Uzbekistan

Human Rights Watch international organization urged the government of Uzbekistan to stop the persecution of human rights leaders, obstructing their work and allow them to operate in the country freely and without fear for their safety.

The reason for the statement became the attack of HRW representative Tatiana Lokshina, which was going to meet the local human rights activists Nodir Akhatov and Gulshan Karaeva. In the morning of December 5, the police detained Akhatov and kept him there until Loshkina left Karshi. Karaeva was also chased by security officers.

That morning, as Lokshina was walking toward the street where Karaeva lives, a young woman unknown to Lokshina lunged at her without warning, screaming loudly. The assailant grabbed Lokshina’s hair, and pulled violently, trying to drag her away. Lokshina called out for help, but none of the people who saw the attack came to her assistance. A police officer suddenly appeared, pulled Lokshina into his car, and accused her of provoking a street fight.

He took Lokshina to a police station, where she was questioned about why she came to Karshi and whom she planned to visit. Police photocopied Lokshina’s identification, demanded to see the contents of her bag and her notebook, and made her write a description of the attack, even though she said she did not want to press charges. They held her for four hours, saying the police chief wanted to speak to her. Then an apparently higher-ranking officer from the security services put Lokshina into a taxi, which took her to Tashkent.

The next day, Lokshina planned to meet with Ahmadjon Madumarov, of the Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan, in Margilan. The policemen deceived and blocked Madumarov, not allowing him to meet HRW representative. They freed him only after Lokshina left Margilan.

“What happened to Lokshina and the people who tried to meet her has frequently been happening to human rights monitors in Uzbekistan, and it shows the government has something to hide,” said Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Uzbekistan’s international partners have been praising the government for human rights improvements, but this praise is wholly undeserved”. “Anyone who tries to report on human rights in Uzbekistan clearly risks getting attacked, arrested or worse”.

According to HRW, in November at least seven human rights and political activists were detained, three of whom were also beaten.

The Uzbek government has long obstructed Human Rights Watch’s work in Uzbekistan. Human Rights In 2008, the authorities denied issuing the accreditation for this organization.