Jan 182010
 

News: Mutabar Tazhibaeva Urging the Global Community to Support Free Voices of the Non-Free Country

Mutabar Tazhibaeva Urging the Global Community to Support Free Voices of the Non-Free Country

January 18, 2010
Voice of Freedom, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

A well-known human rights defender and a holder of three prestigious international awards, Mutabar Tadzhibaeva, who is now undergoing medical treatment in France, urged the global community to defend “free voices of the non-free country.”

“I am addressing to the whole world community and to goodwill people concerned struggling for democratic values. Today we clearly see that that probably the last free voices of the non-free country are in danger. It is time to say ENOUGH. It’s time to speak out and say that indifference will not last forever and that the global community is able to prevent repeated lawlessness. Stop. We must say, we must convey this, we must show that the world is united to struggle for vital values given to people by God!” – the statement reads.

The reason for Tazhibaeva to address to the global community was the fact that Tashkent city prosecutor’s office invited several independent journalists well-known in Uzbekistan and beyond. The human rights defender believes that “people around the world should react to what Uzbek police and law enforcement agencies do” since journalists Sid Yanyshev, Vasily Markov, Aleksey Volosevich, Khusnitdin Kutbidinov, Abdumalik Boboev and Marina Kozlova are in danger.

“To be an independent journalist, a carrier of alternative or independent information, or a human rights defender is like to play with death. This is an extremely dangerous activity. A lot of authoritative international organizations recognized internationally have confirmed this many times, and today they are still of the same opinion. Uzbek authorities selected new victims for themselves. Unfortunately, the world community, with bated breath, continues to just observe how democratic values are destroyed. I am talking about the democracy that my nation has been missing for eighteen years now” – Tazhibaeva says in her statement.

It was reported that on January 7, Tashkent prosecutors invited five well-known Uzbek journalists for an “informal” conversation, who included Sid Yanyshev, Marina Kozlova, former reporter of the Uzbek office of radio “Svoboda” Khusnitdin Kutbidinov, Vasily Markov and reporter of the Uzbek office of the “Voice of America” radio Malik Boboev. Two days later prosecutors also invited journalist Aleksey Volosevich.

A prosecutor presented to the journalists printouts of articles with their names and nicknames signed therein. The articles came from the National Security Service and the Ministry of the Interior of Uzbekistan. The prosecutor mentioned that relevant authorities continue studying the documents provided including information about private life of journalists and their social circle.

“Hunting after human rights defenders, independent journalists, people bravely expressing their viewpoints, and genuine leaders of the nation goes on! It never stopped! I have experienced torture and ill-treatment myself and I imagine better than anyone what independent journalists have to endure when in detention. Every minute they await some provocative acts which can even be harmful for their health. They are always ready for libel, rumors, and statements denigrating their dignity. They may be put to a lock-up any minute to stay with the most dangerous criminal face-to-face. They may not be released until the criminal does what he was instructed to do” – Mutabar Taszhibaeva says to the world.

The HRD urged the whole world community to immediately react and say “that’s enough” to Uzbek authorities.

A similar statement to the world community was made by “Reporters Without Borders”, the international organization based in France. It expressed its deep concern about prosecutors’ inviting journalists to “talk”, and called for immediate reaction to what is going on.

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