“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers” – reads the article number 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which Uzbekistan joined in September 1991.

To date, Uzbekistan has ratified 70 international instruments on human rights. In official media, in briefings, in public speeches of the leadership of the country, in reports to the UPR on the sessions of the Human Rights Council – the official Tashkent has always been claiming about the ongoing reforms in the country related to human rights issues.

One recent example of this kind is the report on the Universal Periodic Review of Uzbekistan at the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council, which was traditionally presented by Akmal Saidov, director of the National Center of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights, on September 19, 2013 in Geneva.

Hypocrisy, lies, deceit and hysterical mood accompanied the speaker during his speech. In particular, he noted that: “… the Uzbek delegation accepted 145 of 203 recommendations that make up the priority areas of human rights activities in Uzbekistan…” Continuing to read about the accomplishments, Akmal Saidov said that “… great attention in the country is paid to the development of national human rights institutions, education and awareness raising, and the dynamic development of the civil sector.” Mr. Saidov’s statements are politically biased, irresponsible and far from the truth.

The fact is that except several dedicated individuals, who daily risk their lives leading human rights activities, there is no human rights movement as such in Uzbekistan. From the first years of independence of Uzbekistan, president Islam Karimov has been establishing a system ruled by one man, thereby starting the destruction of progressive and active part of civil society. During many years of repression, tens of thousands of innocent citizens of Uzbekistan, who wanted to live in free and independent country, fell victims of the bloody regime of Karimov. After destroying the opposition, civil society, free media and tightly closing the country for international NGOs, Islam Karimov has turned Uzbekistan into a single family business, where the country’s national wealth became the property of the family, and the citizens – slaves.

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion…” states the Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Despite the fact that Akmal Saidov promises that Uzbekistan “… will continue to adhere to international obligations and their unquestioning execution … ” even believers of the titular religion of the country are massively persecuted.

Karimov’s brutal regime, disregarding all norms of international law, destroyed and continues to destroy the civil society, which somehow could affect the public consciousness.

One of the clear examples of this kind is the arrest of Abdulla Utaev, head of the regional structure of the Islamic Renaissance Party, in December 1992. The National Security Service of Uzbekistan arrested him in his own house, and to this day there is no information about his whereabouts (!).

On August 25, 1995, sheikh Abduvali Mirzaev, renowned theologian Islamic world, and his companion Ramadan Matkarimov were kidnapped by Uzbekistan’s security services at the Tashkent International Airport en route to Moscow to attend an international Islamic conference. Until today, the Uzbek government has not officially acknowledged the abduction of the two prominent Muslim leaders. On September 26, 2007, sheikh’s only son Abdulkuddus Mirzaev, his wife and in his son were killed in a car crash in Saudi Arabia. Abdulkuddus searched for his father until last days of his life, but was not able to get truthful information.

The absence of independent judges and lawyers; prosecution of human rights activities, arbitrary detention and fabricated criminal cases against civil society activists, torture, and contemporary forms of slavery, lack of freedom for peaceful assembly and demonstrations, restriction on the freedom of religion and belief, including unregistered religious groups, the lack of independent non-governmental organizations and media; clan fighting, widespread corruption, a deep crisis in the economic and political life of the country can be described as the reality of today’s Uzbekistan.

Defending constitutional rights or participation in any monitoring processes may lead to disastrous consequences. Uzbek secret services extremely suppress any manifestation of freedom. One such examples is the report made on 24 April, 2011, on the Russian TV channel “Russia 1” about the fate of ethnic Russians in Central Asia (www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGkKvCPza9Y). Main characters of the film from Uzbekistan were persecuted by the regime. Family of Tatiana Davlatova was unreasonably subjected to criminal prosecution. In May of the same year, Davlatova was accused of defamation and fined to a total of 4520 Euro. And in December 2011, her only son was sentenced to ten years and one month in prison for drug trafficking in a large scale (!).

Ignoring the current recommendations of the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Mr. Saidov hysterically stated: “… in Uzbekistan there is no political persecution. People are attracted to criminal liability not for their beliefs, but for their concrete actions.” In reality, civil society activists are punished for their professional work through trumped-up criminal charges.

One such example is the persecution of Hasanboy Burkhanov, disabled since childhood, leader of the public organization of disabled people of Uzbekistan. From 2009 to 2012, he was subject to unwarranted harassment from the judicial and legal system of Uzbekistan.

Despite his disability, he exposed and openly confronted the criminal groups composed of corrupt law enforcement officers, government officials and the leadership of the Uzbek Society of the Disabled, thereby protecting the interests of people with disabilities.

Judicial and legal system fought against Burkhanov for a long time. Due to the presence observers from the diplomatic corps at trial, the process was unreasonably and repeatedly postponed. There have been cases of clear provocation. Over three years, Hasanboy Burkhanov was subject to comprehensive violence of authorities, and for safety reasons had to leave his home in fall of 2012.

The same fate happened to Nigora Hidoyatova, leader of the unregistered opposition party “Ozod dekhkonlar” (Free farmers). The regime tried to prosecute her for the creation of an illegal organization and attempt to overthrow the government of Uzbekistan. Hidoyatova miraculously could escape the arrests and fled the country in the summer of 2012.

Karimov’s brutal regime has mercy neither for disabled people, nor for women or the elderly. In July 10 this year, authorities arrested Bobomurod Razzakov, 60 year-old head of the Bukhara Regional Branch of the Human Rights Society “Ezgulik”, on suspicion of human trafficking. On September 24 he was sentenced to four years in prison. Bobomurod Razzakov for a long time was the head of human rights organization “Ezgulik ” and trumped-up criminal charges against him are related to his professional activities and are politically motivated.

A similar incident occurred in May 31, 2013 in Gallaral district of Jizzakh region. Several law enforcement officers visited a 75-year-old Turaboy (Nabijon) Juraboev in his home and asked him to go with them to the district police department for a talk. Juraboev’s family was told that he would return home within 30 minutes, but the rights defender did not return home that day. Turaboy Juraboev was charged with “extortion in a large scale” and “fraud.” After several trials, in 23 August of this year, the human rights activist was sentenced to five years in prison. Over the past years Juraboev worked closely with the radio “Ozodlik”, Uzbek service of RFE\RL. He practiced citizen journalism and fought with the arbitrariness of local authorities .

Commenting Akmal Saidov’s statements that Uzbekistan does not practice torture and has no politically motivated criminal cases, I would like to draw attention to one particular moment in Turaboy Juraboev’s case. When the rights activists did not return home on May 31, his wife Feruza Mamatova started inquiring information about him at the district police department. She was not allowrd for a long time to meet with her husband, and only 20 days later she was able to get permission to visit him. At a meeting with his wife, Juraboev said that he was not fed well in detention. He was subject to sophisticated form of torture. Sadists of Karimov’s bloody regime are aware that torture by hunger demoralizes the person and suppresses his will. That is, without causing visible injuries to the person, it makes it possible to obtain the necessary confession from them.

Feruza Mamatova, in search of truth, was able to meet with Akmal Saidov on June 11, where she informed him in a written form about the details of the arrest of her husband, Turaboy Juraboev, civil activist and human rights defender. Once again wearing a mask of hypocrisy, Akmal Saidov promised Feruza Mamatova to look into the case of her husband. “Actions” of Akmal Saidov on this case ended when his office forwarded Feruza Mamatova’s to prosecutor’s office. Upon arrival to her home, Mamatova was severely threatened by members of the local police department.

At the 24th session of the UN Human Rights Council, Ms. Renate Bloem, representative of an international NGO “CIVICUS”, made ​​a recommendation about political prisoners in Uzbekistan, mentioning Turaboy Juraboev’s case. Responding to recommendations of participants, Akmal Saidov said that “in Uzbekistan there is no political persecution. People are attracted to criminal liability not for their beliefs, but for their concrete actions.” If Akaml Saidov’s words are true, then why trials of civil activists in Uzbekistan are held behind the closed doors, and observers from the diplomatic corps are not allowed to present during hearings, and if they are allowed, trials are broken on false grounds? Why observers from local human rights groups are harassed and persecuted for their participation in court proceedings? Why relatives of people convicted on trumped-up criminal cases are subject threats and intimidation only for looking for the truth in the endless maze of the country’s legal system?

International Human Rights Association “Fiery Hearts Club” has a lot of archive material about bloody criminal acts of Karimov’s regime, which will be made public in organization’s website in near future. They will be open to public and anyone will be able to use them.

Given the powerless position of citizens of Uzbekistan, all the able-bodied population of the country four days in a year is forced work for free in public subbotniks and do the work for municipal service organizations. Four daily wages of workers are transferred to a special bank account of the government, which is later used by Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan for different purposes. It is impossible to track the use of money from this account. In spring and summer each year, the young and able-bodied population of the country is forced to work for free in the agricultural sector during weeding and harvesting cotton. The modern form of slavery in Uzbekistan is very common.

Another lie and deceit from Akmal Saidov is his statement, which says that “… according to the latest data, the number of non-governmental organizations in Uzbekistan exceeds 6,500. The government supports the activities of NGOs by providing them with financial assistance. We do not allow them to receive foreign aid. Over the last 5 years the parliamentary committee on NGO support provided grants for more than 1000 NGOs…”

According to reliable information received from the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan, the number of NGOs in the country that passed the state registration is not more than 500 organizations and are under the control of the state. The rest of the NGOs voiced by Akmal Saidov are the branches and regional offices of national NGOs, which have been registered at the local judicial authorities. NGOs passed registration do not have the status of a legal entity, and their activity is carried out on a short-term power of attorney from their parent NGO.

Statistical data voiced by Mr. Saidov only confirms expert opinion on the Central Asian region that Uzbekistan has no independent NGOs and the civil sector. If the state does not allow the Uzbek NGOs to receive foreign aid, it thereby prevents them from international cooperation, which in turn leads to interference in the activities of the organization. Funding the civil society organizations via the parliamentary commission on NGO support is the imposition of official government policy on NGOs.

Our organization has a strong desire to sit down at a round table with representatives of official Tashkent and look at their lying eyes that are so fiercely protective of the rotten system of the country. This brings to mind the words of English classic William Hazlitt, who argued that: “The most hypocritical people are more likely to remain out in the cold.”

Given today’s situation in the country, the role of the few human rights organizations monitoring in Uzbekistan is very necessary and needed at least make the international community and the progressive mankind aware about the lawlessness happening in Uzbekistan .

Mutabar Tadjibayeva,

Head of the International
Human Rights Association
“Fiery Hearts Club”