To President of the Czech Republic Milos Zeman.

Dear Mr. President,

It is 25 years since Islam Karimov has been continuously ruling Uzbekistan, having turned one of the most promising countries of Central Asia into a police state, which allows the government keeping people in fear and obedience, where there are no independent civil society organizations and freedom of speech, and where human rights are permanently violated.

The number of political prisoners per capita is highest in the post-Soviet space. Tortures and ill- treatment of prisoners regularly occur and remain unpunished.

Memories of the Uzbek people are still fresh about the Andijan events taken place on 13 May 2005, when government troops opened fire on peaceful demonstrators from large-caliber weapons. Until now, the exact number of killed people is unknown and the authorities carefully hide any information about the tragedy. Despite the fact that the Uzbek authorities reported about 180 people killed in the massacre, they did not specify their names of these people, and still avoid the question about causes of their deaths.

Uzbek authorities ignore calls of authoritative international human rights organizations and recommendations of experts from the UN Committee against Torture on a need to conduct an international investigation into the Andijan 2005 events in 2005 and punish perpetrators of the mass shooting of civilians.

Despite the brutal crimes of dictator Islam Karimov, EU countries are increasing cooperation with Uzbekistan, arranging its leader magnificent receptions. In Brussels in January 2011, a meeting took place between President Islam Karimov and European Commission President José Manuel Barroso and NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and in October 2013 Latvian President Andris Berzinsh received the President of Uzbekistan.

EU cooperation with authoritarian countries, who ignore European values​​, stimulates their leaders to commit more violent crimes against their powerless nations.

According to our information and the news announced by the Uzbek service of Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty on 10 January 2014, an official visit of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, one of the most brutal dictators of our time, is planned to the Czech Republic on 21-23 February.

“Fiery Hearts Club” international human rights organization believes that receptions of leaders of authoritarian states by European countries contribute to approval of their policies. We believe this policy hypocritical as it promotes entrenchment of authoritarian regimes.

“Fiery Hearts Club” international human rights organization appealed to President of the International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach on 18 November, 2013 informing him about the upcoming visit of Islam Karimov in the Czech Republic. We have also informed him that during the visit of dictator Karimov to the Czech Republic, our organization intends to conduct protest actions together with partners and colleagues (www.jarayon.com/ru/index.php/component/k2/item/610-sochinskaya-olimpiada-pozor-rossijskim-vlastyam).

Dear Mr.President Milos Zeman, we urge you to voice the following requirements to the leadership of Uzbekistan during talks with Islam Karimov:

– releasing all imprisoned human rights defenders and political prisoners languishing in prisons of the country;

– ensuring conditions for unhampered work of non-governmental organizations in the country and guaranteeing freedom of speech;

– cessation of use of tortures against detainees and prisoners;

– an international investigation into the Andijan 2005 events and punishment of perpetrators of the mass shooting of civilians.

Along with this, “Fiery Hearts Club” international human rights organization inform its partners and colleagues that during the visit of Islam Karimov in the Czech Republic, our organization plans to conduct public protest actions. After obtaining necessary permits, we will report further on about a specific date and venue of the protest actions.

We urge all victims of the Karimov regime to join our campaign and protest. The world and European community need to know about crimes of Islam Karimov and his regime. Every citizen of Uzbekistan who is not indifferent to the fate of his/her country and nation should be aware that when injustice becomes a law, resistance becomes a duty.

Mutabar Tadjibayeva,

Head of “Fiery Hearts Club”international human rights organization

January 14, 2014

Paris, France