Category Archives: Uzbekistan

Ekaterina Nazarshoeva: Migration is an interstate problem

On October 9, about fifty migrant workers from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan held a strike in St. Petersburg. According to the Russian trade union activists, majority of striking migrants, most of who worked as janitors, were legal immigrants.

These people went on strike to defend their rights and get their salaries that they haven’t received for two months.

Kashkadarya continues to force children pick cotton

Despites the authorities’ promises not to involve child labor in cotton campaign, Kashkadarya region of Uzbekistan still continues to force children work in harvesting “the white gold”.

“Jarayon” received this information from Malohat Eshonova, journalist and coordinator of “Birdamlik” movement in Uzbekistan, who observed child labor in cotton plantations.

Uzbekistan bans Halloween

Celebration of Halloween, a holiday of masks and costumes, which has become quite popular in Uzbekistan during the past five years, is banned by Uzbek authorities.

This holiday, which is not widely celebrated in Uzbekistan, was not officially banned.

“Fiery Hearts Club” urges not to participate in the projects of dictator’s daughter

Media reported that the famous French actor Gerard Depardieu agreed to play a role in the film scripted by Gulnara Karimova, eldest daughter of Uzbek president Islam Karimov.

It may seem there is nothing extraordinary here; artists, actors, as professional players in the world of show business, have a right to try their talents, and make for living.

However, we must remind Mr.Depardieu that political system in Uzbekistan is one of the most violent regimes in the world.

Written complaints of prisoner Agzam Turgunov are also staying behind the bars

Prominent Uzbek human rights activist Agzam Turgunov, serving for four years in prison, complains that his rights are being grossly violated.

Prisoner from the “black list”

Human rights activist Agzam Turgunov considers his detention unlawful and complains that his written complaints about reviewing his case sent to Ombudsman, who is a responsible person for human rights under Parliament of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Prosecutor General and the country’s Supreme Court, are staying within jail. This was reported by Mutabar Tajibaeva, the head of the International Human Rights Organization “Fiery Hearts Club”.

Lene Wetteland: Most Uzbeks cannot get asylum in Norway

On October 15, Oslo hosted a seminar entitled “Uzbekistan – behind closed gates”, which was dedicated to problems of human rights in Uzbekistan.

The event was organized by Norwegian Helsinki Committee and Norwegian Organization of asylum seekers.

Participants discussed issues of compliance with the freedom of speech, religion and belief in Uzbekistan, as well as other significant problems related to human rights in the country.

Film director Nick Powell morally supports dictatorship in Uzbekistan

On October 24, the Uzbek service of BBC published on its website an interview with Mr. Nik Powell, director of the National Film and Television School in the United Kingdom. Recently, Tashkent hosted a Film Festival “Golden Cheetah”, and Mr. Nik Powell headed its jury.

The film festival was organized by the “Fund Forum,” led by Gulnara Karimova, eldest daughter of President Islam Karimov.

Money transfers are being tightly controlled

Authorities in Uzbekistan started to tightly control the financial flows coming to country via transfer services like Contact, Migom, Western Union, Money Gram, Unistream and Solotaya Korona.

Starting September 15 of this year all money transfers coming to Uzbekistan from foreign countries, regardless its amount, will be thoroughly checked.

Uzbekistan: Two human rights activists released

Human rights activist Uktam Pardaev and opposition member Fakhriddin Tillaev returned home after having spent 15 days in prison.

Uktam Pardaev, head of the Jizzakh branch of the Independent Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan, was released on October 17 after 15 days of detention.

The adoption of news laws does not change human rights situation in Uzbekistan

It is well known that the human rights situation in Uzbekistan remains permanently critical. The task of human rights activists is not in attempting to avoid repetition of the already mentioned positions, but in stating of facts about the real situation and current trends.

Thus, during my speech, I’ll probably repeat points and positions that were mentioned by me and other human rights activists. Also, I will try to briefly analyze the behavior of the authorities and their response to criticism related to human rights.