Declaration of Uzbekistan Human Rights Activists

In connection events on the night of 25 to 26 May in the village of  Khanabad the Andijan region and the city of Andijan, Uzbek law enforcement agencies have increased the pressure and monitoring of the independent human rights defenders and other activists, committed to a free civil society in Uzbekistan.

Already 26 of the evening a few human rights activists felt the surveillance. On May 27, the morning of 9 am local time, while trying to pass into the UN, were arrested and taken to Mirabad Regional Ministry of Internal Affairs (RMIA) defenders Elena Urlaeva, Salomatov Boymatova, Ilnur Abdulov. They were seized near the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. In detention, despite the fact that none of them had tried to resist, they have been treated very tough, with the only man among them Ilnur Abdulov was severely beaten. Sitting in a nearby cafe the people began to shout: - «man beaten, call the police», in response, who is from the beating he shouted: - «we have from the police».

Further, the defenders were taken into RMIA of the Mirabad area. They have been treated very rudely, they were accused of all sorts of charges, in particular, that because of their behavior, again trajic events in Andijan happened, which officials said the pickets that the activists were organizing were a call for the terrorists and extremists.

In the police department they were held in different offices, and then several hours later took them to the office of the place of residence. And only after 16.00 local time, they were released. At the same time Elena Urlaeva was forced to write an explanatory note, where it gives a commitment that, prior to June 10, she will not engage in human rights activities. Apparently, until that number will continue to strengthen the law enforcement agencies.

Another human rights activist, Yuri Konoplev was forcibly put into a car with tinted windows and taken through the city, all during which he was threatened. At the same time be threatened him. Then again, with threats, he was released in a remote area of the city of Tashkent. Being in the police departments, human rights defenders have seen how law enforcement officers brought into their offices a large number of migrant workers who came in search of work in the city of Tashkent.

We declare: --

«Not in a single secular country, human rights activists are not considered terrorists and extremists, but are the most active members of civil society. Human rights defenders are against any violence. We strongly condemn the military action which causes casualties. Only in countries with authoritarian and dictatorial regimes, human rights advocates are seen as rogue society, equitable to the extremists ».

We demand from the authorities of the termination of pressure on defenders and accusing them as extremists and terrorists. The human rights movement, eliminates the very concept of extremism and terrorism. We are for peace and non-violent ways of development of society, for the free and open attitude of its members.

Confederation of Independent human rights defenders in Uzbekistan:

BAHADIR Namazov, the committee release prisoners of conscience in Uzbekistan

Elena Urlaeva, Advocacy Alliance

Oleg Sarapul, an independent human rights

Mamir Azimov, Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan

CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation supports the Declaration of Human Rights Activists of Uzbekistan

May 27, 2009

Tashkent