to dismiss the charges against Abdumalik Boboev…

17 September 2010
To:
H.E. Islam Abduganievich Karimov
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Rezidentsiya prezidenta
Ul. Uzbekistaniskaia 43
Tashkent
Uzbekistan
Fax: 00 998 71 139 5325
E-mail: presidents_office@press-service.uz
CC:
H.E. Vladimir Norov, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Your Excellency,
I write as the Secretary General of CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, an international
alliance of civil society with members and partners in over a hundred countries. Together with the
undersigned partners, we express our deep concern about the indictment of Adbumalik Boboev, an
independent journalist and correspondent for the Voice of America, in what appears to be another case of
attack and suppression of independent thought and expression in the country.
Mr. Boboev was officially charged under four articles of the Criminal Code – ‘Slander’ (Art. 139), ‘Insult’
(Art. 140), ‘Illegal Departure abroad or illegal entry into the Republic of Uzbekistan’ ( Art. 223), and
‘manufacture or distribution of materials containing a threat to public safety and order’ (Art. 244.1). Article
244.1 also assumes that the crime was committed “with the use of financial or other material assistance
received from religious organisations as well as from foreign states, organisations and citizens,” which we
believe implies the radio service, Voice of America, funded by the US government.
According to local sources, Boboev was initially charged with Article 233 alleged to have entered the
country without a stamp on his passport upon his return from Kazakhstan. The other charges appear to
be based on the expert conclusion of the “Center for mass communications monitoring”, a body under the
Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information. We believe that these charges were brought against
Mr. Boboev due to his independent journalism work for Voice of America. 41 year old Abdumalik Boboev
has been working for Voice of America since 2006 but was never able to obtain official accreditation for
his work due to lack of response from the Uzbek Foreign Ministry to his several applications for
registration.
Your Excellency, we are alarmed that such ideologically motivated charges are repeatedly used by your
Government to suppress independent thought and expression. In the past year, we have witnessed the
trial and conviction of several individuals for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression.
In February, photographer Umida Akhmedova, was found guilty of “libel” and “insult” for her photographic
and cinematographic work documenting the lives and culture of the Uzbek people. Although she was
granted amnesty, it sent a strong negative signal to the artistic community of Uzbekistan, as well as
national and international civil society at large. Health practitioner Maksim Popov was also found guilty in
September 2009 of charges, including” promoting homosexuality” and “involving minors in anti-social
behavior.” Mr. Popov is still serving his 4 year sentence as punishment for his work to raise public
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awareness on the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. We
are also aware that Vladimir Berezovskiy, a Russian journalist and the editor of Vesti.uz website, is
currently on trial under charges of ‘insult’ and ‘slander’ after expert findings of the national Center for
Mass Communications monitoring.
Freedom of Expression is a right that is expressly guaranteed under the constitution of Uzbekistan, and
under its commitments to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. International human
rights law is anchored on the principle that human rights are of universal significance, inherent in
humanity and belonging to everyone irrespective of political, cultural or any other contexts. Such rights
like freedom of expression are one of the fundamental rights that can not be subjected to limitations
except for limited prescribed grounds and only under the strictest of conditions. We remain deeply
concerned that a possible guilty verdict in this specific case could ultimately fail to meet this test.
We call upon you to use your Executive power to dismiss the charges against Abdumalik Boboev, ensure
that freedom of expression is protected in your country, and support the good and peaceful work of civil
society in your country.
Sincerely,
Ingrid Srinath
Secretary General
CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation
Joined by:
Bahadir Namazov, Committee for the Release of Prisoners of Conscience, Uzbeksitan
Christian Hamel, Vice-president of the Association “Human Rights in Central Asia”, France
Olga Zakharova, Ethno-Ecological Research Labaratory, Russian Federation
Mutabar Tadjibayeva – head of the «Fiery Hearts Club», France
Abdujalil Boymatov, President of HumanRights Society of Uzbekistan.
Talib Yakubov, the vice-president of the Human Rights Society Uzbekistan. France
Yusuf Rasulov, editor of the web site: www.yangidunyo.com,independent journalist. Sweden.
Tulkin Karaev, Member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Timra, Sweden,
Gulshan Karaeva, Chairman Kashkadarya regional office Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan,
Karshi, Uzbekistan,
Bashorat Eshova, Coordinator of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan in Switzerland,
Hamdambek Davletov, Member of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan, Timra, Sweden,
Muhiddin Kurbanov, Chairman of the International Society of Human Rights, Sweden
Avaz Fayazov, chairman of Caucasian branch, International Society of Human Rights
Abutov Muhammadsolih Zam. Prev. Society “Tayanchi”
For more information, please contact:
Sonia Zilberman, Civil Society Watch Programme, CIVICUS
sonia.zilberman@civicus Tel: +27 11 833 5959 (office), +27 76 884 0402 (mobile) or Rowena
McNaughton, Media Officer, CIVICUS
rowena.mcnaughton@civicus.org, Tel: +27 11 833 5959 (office)