UZBEKISTAN: PEN Shocked by Ten-year Sentence

14 October 2008

Update to RAN 40/08

The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of International PEN is shocked to learn of the ten year prison sentence served against the independent journalist and human rights defender Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov, on 10 October 2008. Aburakhmanov was arrested in early June 2008 on charges of possessing illegal drugs, charges widely considered to have been fabricated in retaliation for his human rights reporting. The WiPC considers his conviction to be a serious breach of Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Uzbekistan is a signatory, and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.

Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov (58), is a journalist working for the independent German-based Uzbek agency Uznews.net and the chairperson of the Committee for the Defence of the Rights of the Individual. He was arrested on 7 June 2008 by traffic police in Nukus, on the Turkmen border, who stopped and searched his car and then claimed to have found illegal drugs. On the same day police searched his home and his workplace and confiscated a laptop computer, books, and notes, amongst others. Later, Abdurakhmanov was questioned about a biography of the exile leader of the banned opposition party Erk, found by police amongst his belongings.

It has been reported that Abdurakhmanov has denied the use of narcotics or being in possession of illegal substances, and that medical tests' results reportedly confirmed he is not a drug user. Neither the information found in his belongings has shown evidence of any illegal activity. Abdurakhmanov's defence alleged that the charges against him were pre-fabricated and are a punishment for his journalistic and human rights work. They believe that the illegal substances were placed in Abdurakhmanov's car either by the police or by a third party. Despite this lack of evidence, a district court in Nukus, the capital of autonomous region of Karakalpakstan, western Uzbekistan, convicted him as charged. He will appeal the sentence.

Abdurakhmanov is well known for his reporting and monitoring of human rights, economic and social issues in the region. Prior to his arrest he had expressed concerns that he may suffer reprisals for his writings. Amnesty International is among those who believe that the charges are questionable and considers Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov to be a prisoner of conscience.

To read more about his case, see the full Amnesty International's appeal:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/EUR62/005/2008/en/a592b881-62ed-11dd-9756-f55e3ec0a600/eur620052008eng.html

For the BBC's Uzbek country profile:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/country_profiles/1238242.stm

For more on internet censorship in Uzbekistan go to the International Crisis Group
http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?id=5709