Journalist Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov, kept in the prison in Karshi, was not allowed to see his son Davron, who came to the prison for a short visit.

That was reported to Jarayon by the journalist’s spouse Shukurzhon Abdurakhmanova.

According to her, the prison officials issued permission for Davron to visit his father, who arrived to the Karshi prison. The father and the son were brought into the visiting room and they saw each other on the two sides of the mirror. However, the prison staff took Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov out of the room before the father and the son even managed to take their seats at the phones to talk to each other.

Then the prison officials asked Davron to leave the room. When he asked them why his father was taken away, the prison staff said that the phones in the visiting room had been broken.

“After this trouble, my son kept visiting all prison officials in Karshi for three days hoping to get permission to visit his father. But he was not allowed to see his father anymore,” said Shukurzhon Abdurakhmanova.

She said that none of the Karshi prison officials explained Davron Abdurakhmanov “why the phones had been broken”. Instead, they said the son of the journalist had exercised the right for a short meeting with his father, and asked him to come back to the prison next time.

Our son told them: “But we didn’t manage to communicate,” but they answered him: “Even though you didn’t manage to communicate, the prison officers have already processed all the papers, and you have already exercised the right to visit your father according to the law,” said Shukurzhon Abdurakhmanova.

In 2008, freelance journalist Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov was arrested in Nukus and charged with possession and distribution of large quantity of drugs. Despite the fact that the court did not establish Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov’s guilt, the court ordered to imprison the journalist for 10 years. Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov as well as other representatives of the civil society of Uzbekistan believes that all the charges against him were fabricated.

Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov, who has been kept imprisoned for more than six years, suffers from stomach ulcers. As drinking water in the Karshi prison is bad for his health, relatives of the journalist bring him a big container of drinking water every time they come to visit him in Karshi.

Last autumn, due to health impairment, Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov was transferred from Karshi prison 64/51 to the prison hospital 64/18 (colloquially called “Sangorod” – Jarayon’s note). However, after the treatment, the journalist was transferred back to the prison in Karshi.

In late January 2014 during the meeting with Vasilya Inoyatova and Abdurakhman Tashanov, representatives from Ezgulik Human Rights Society, Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov told them that all his complaints do not reach the prison authorities. He added that justice would prevail providing his case is reviewed in the Supreme Court.

Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov is one of the three political prisoners twelve U.S. senators spoke for in June 2013, and sent a corresponding protection letter to Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov.

However, all three Uzbekistan political prisoners, Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov, Agzam Turgunov and Dilmurod Sayid, whose names were mentioned in the letter of the twelve U.S. senators, are still in jail.

Asad BAIMURADOV