Friday, May 11, 2007

While Umida is freed, Sentence for Turaeva has been doubled...

UZBEK COURT DOUBLES PRISON SENTENCE FOR RIGHTS ACTIVIST. An Uzbek court issued a ruling on May 10 effectively doubling the prison sentence for local human rights activist Gulbahor Turaeva to a 12-year term, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reported. Turaeva was an eyewitness to the events in Andijon in May 2005, when the Uzbek government violently suppressed a demonstration there. She was initially sentenced to a six-year prison term in April after being convicted on charges including "anticonstitutional activities,"

"threatening public order," and slander (see "RFE/RL Newsline," April

25 and May 2, 2007). The conviction was strongly criticized by the German-held presidency of the European Union (see "RFE/RL Newsline,"

May 7, 2007).

Tuesday, May 8, 2007

UMIDA IS FREE!!!!!!!!!!

As a result of her appeal hearing today, Umida was released and is now free! More details to follow!!!

Monday, May 7, 2007

Umida's Appeal Could Be Heard Tomorrow

We have heard an unconfirmed report that Umida’s appeal will be held tomorrow in Tashkent at the Tashkent City Criminal Court. Please stay tuned to this website for any information about the results of the appeal as we receive it. Let’s all hope that she is released upon her appeal.

Saturday, May 5, 2007

RSF: Condamnation à sept ans de prison d’une journaliste indépendante : "l’Union européenne ne doit pas alléger les sanctions"

4.05.2007

Condamnation à sept ans de prison d’une journaliste indépendante : "l’Union européenne ne doit pas alléger les sanctions"

Reporters sans frontières dénonce, avec la plus grande fermeté, la condamnation, le 1er mai 2007, de la journaliste et défenseur des droits de l’homme Umida Niazova à sept ans de prison. L’organisation de défense de la liberté de la presse appelle l’Union européenne à ne pas lever les sanctions votées contre l’Ouzbékistan tant que ce dernier ne s’engagera pas à mettre un terme aux persécutions des opposants et des journalistes indépendants.

“Cette condamnation est tout simplement disproportionnée au regard de l’infraction commise par la jeune femme. Le véritable objectif de cette peine est d‘empêcher toute discussion sur les violations des libertés fondamentales par les autorités”, a ajouté Reporters sans frontières .

Les conditions de déroulement du procès n’ont pas permis de rendre une justice impartiale et équitable : la procédure a été expéditive, et n’a pas respecté les droits de la défense. L’avocat d’Umida Niazova n’a bénéficié que d’une courte demi-heure pour préparer sa plaidoirie et l’accusée n’a été entendue que trois fois. La jeune femme a en outre été condamnée pour être entrée illégalement sur le territoire ouzbek (fait qu’elle a reconnu) mais surtout pour la diffusion de documents “troublant l’ordre public”.

L’organisation de défense de la liberté de la presse demande que, dans l’attente de son procès en appel, les autorités remettent en liberté Umida Niazova, incarcérée depuis plus de trois mois.

Reporters sans frontières attire l’attention sur la détérioration continue de la liberté de la presse en Ouzbékistan. Le mois dernier, on apprenait en effet la prolongation de six mois de l’internement en asile psychiatrique de Djamshid Karimov, journaliste indépendant et neveu du chef de l’Etat Islam Karimov.

Après la répression de la révolte d’Andijan, en mai 2005, dont les victimes sont estimées par les organisations de défense des droits de l’homme à quelque huit cents personnes (187 selon les autorités ouzbèkes), l’Union européenne a voté la mise en place de sanctions à l’encontre de l’Ouzbékistan. Le 13 novembre 2006, ces dernières ont été légèrement assouplies et doivent être réexaminées ce mois-ci.

EU SETS ULTIMATUM TO UZBEKISTAN OVER JAILING OF RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

Saturday, 05 May 2007
Uznews.net – Germany made a strong statement on behalf of the European Union on 4 May on the sentences issued against Gulbahor Turayeva and Umida Niyazova, demanding that Uzbekistan immediately reviews the cases of the human rights activists and threatening that the sanctions against it will be extended.

The declaration issued by Germany, which is holding the EU presidency now, on 4 May says that the EU has learnt with great concern about the “harsh” sentences of six years’ imprisonment issued to Gulbahor Turayeva on 24 April and of seven years’ imprisonment to Umida Niyazova on 1 May.

The EU also regretted that international observers had not been allowed to observe the trial despite the requests they had made in advance.

“Reiterating its concern about the situation of human rights defenders in Uzbekistan the EU urges the Uzbek authorities to immediately review the two cases and to fully respect the principles of due and fair trial according to Uzbekistan's commitments to international human rights standards. The EU calls on the Uzbek authorities to grant unhindered access to both women by family and lawyers,” Germany said.

The declaration also says: “The two sentences send a worrying signal by Uzbekistan in the perspective of an EU decision on whether to renew specific sanctions adopted in 2005 in relation to the Andijan tragedy.”

Friday, May 4, 2007

U.S. EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER SENTENCING OF UZBEK RIGHTS DEFENDER

U.S. EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER SENTENCING OF UZBEK RIGHTS DEFENDER. The
U.S. State Department expressed concern on May 3 over the trial and
sentencing of Uzbek human rights activist Umida Niyazova, RFE/RL's
Uzbek Service reported. The statement from Washington said the United
States was "disturbed" by the way Niyazova's trial was conducted, and
said the charges against her were "politically motivated." The U.S.
statement echoes similar criticism of the case by human rights
groups, including the New York-based Human Rights Watch, which have
condemned her detention and prosecution as an effort to silence
critics. Rights groups say the case against Niyazova is connected to
her articles reporting on the May 2005 killing of protesters by
security forces in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijon. A Tashkent
court recently sentenced Niyazova to seven years in prison after a
two-day closed trial in which she was found guilty of illegally
crossing the Uzbek border, distributing materials that threaten
public order, and smuggling (see "RFE/RL Newsline," April 20 and May
2, 2007). RG

Thursday, May 3, 2007

Uzbek ministry of foreign affairs statement

1 мая 2007 года в Сергелийском районном суде по уголовным делам города Ташкента закончено рассмотрение уголовного дела в отношении Умиды Ниязовой, которая признана виновной по трём предъявленным ей статьям Уголовного Кодекса Республики Узбекистан:

- статья 223 («Незаконное пересечение государственной границы»);
- статья 246 («Контрабанда»);
- статья 2441 («Изготовление или распространение материалов, содержащих угрозу общественной безопасности и общественному порядку»).

Суд проходил в открытом режиме. На заседании присутствовали представители «Хьюман Райтс Вотч» и других НПО.
По совокупности совершённых У. Ниязовой преступлений, она приговорена к 7 годам лишения свободы с отбыванием наказания в колонии общего режима.

В ходе следствия также выяснено, что У. Ниязова занималась финансированием различных, не имеющих официальной регистрации, неправительственных и правозащитных организаций, действующих в Узбекистане. При этом финансовые средства, передаваемые указанным незаконным организациям, У. Ниязова получала от ряда иностранных дипломатических представительств, аккредитованных в Узбекистане.

Данные факты, в соответствии с международным правом, не могут не рассматриваться как попытки вмешательства во внутренние дела суверенного государства.

Пресс-служба МИД РУз

2 мая 2007 года