he Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint
programme of the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World
Organisation Against Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the
following situation in Uzbekistan.
Description of
the situation:
The Observatory
has been informed by reliable sources about the
arbitrary detention of Mr. Farhodon Mukhtarov, an active and
long-standing member of the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan.
According to the
information received, on July 18, 2009, Mr. Farhodon
Mukhtarov was arrested at the District Prosecutor's office as he was
in the premises to submit a statement and a complaint against illegal
actions carried out by police officers and investigator Boymatov. The
Prosecutor decided indeed to report his visit to the police station,
which came to arrest him directly at the Prosecutor's office. Mr.
Mukhtarov was then brought to the Yunus-Abad police station.
As of issuing
this urgent appeal, Mr. Mukhtarov remained detained but
no information could be obtained as to his place of detention nor as
to the charges that would be held against him[1].
At the end of May
2009, Mr. Mukhtarov had already been briefly
detained after a complaint had been reportedly filed against him by
another Uzbek citizen, apparently for fraud, under Article 168, Part
2, paragraph A of the Uzbek Criminal Code. However, the authorities
had refused to let him view the complaint.
The Observatory
expresses its utmost concern about Mr. Farhodon
Mukhtarov’s arbitrary detention, and believes that these acts of
harassment actually aim at sanctioning Mr. Mukhtarov's human rights
activities. The latter had already been arrested in 2006 and later
released following the mobilisation of the Human Rights Alliance and
diplomats, and that his flat had been tentatively arsoned at the end
of 2008.
As a
participating State of the Organisation for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the Observatory recalls that Uzbekistan
recognises “the need for particular attention, support and protection
for human rights defenders by the OSCE, its Institutions and field
operations, as well as by participating States”.
The Observatory
further urges the European Commission Delegation as
well as European Union (EU) Member-States embassies in the Uzbekistan to call
upon the Uzbek authorities to comply with the relevant international norms and
standards, in particular the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights
Defenders, and take action on the
above-mentioned elements, in line with the EU Guidelines on Human
Rights Defenders.
Actions
required:
Please write to
the Uzbek authorities urging them to:
i. Guarantee the
physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Farhodon Mukhtarov;
ii. Disclose Mr.
Mukhtarov's whereabouts and release him immediately
and unconditionally since his detention is arbitrary as it only aims
at sanctioning his human rights activities;
iii. Put an end
to all acts of harassment against Mr. Mukhtarov as
well as all other human rights defenders in Uzbekistan;
iv. Conform with
the provisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by the
General Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially its
Article 1, which states that
“everyone has the right, individually and in association with others,
to promote and to strive for the protection and realisation of human
rights and fundamental freedoms at the national and international
levels” and its Article 12.2, which states that “the State shall take
all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent
authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others,
against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure
adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a
consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred
to in the present Declaration”;
v. Ensure in all
circumstances respect for human rights and
fundamental freedoms in accordance with international human rights
standards and international instruments ratified by Uzbekistan.
Addresses:
·
President of Uzbekistan, Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov, ul.
Uzbekistanskaya 43, Rezidentsia prezidenta, 700163 Tashkent, Republic
of Uzbekistan, Fax: +998 71 133 1395325, E-mail: presidents_office@press-service.uz
· Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Elyor Majidovich
Ganiev,
Respublika Uzbekistan; 700029 g. Tashkent; pl. Mustakillik, 5;
Ministerstvo inostrannykh del RU, S.S., Uzbekistan, Fax: + 998 71 139
15 17, E-mail: rnews@mfa.uz
· Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights,
Sayora
Rashidova, ul. Xalqlar Dostligi 1, 700035 Tashkent, Republic of
Uzbekistan, Fax: +998 71 139 85 55, E-mail: office@ombudsman.gov.uz
· Chairman of the Supreme Court of the Republic of
Uzbekistan,
Ubaydulla Mingbaev, Respublika Uzbekistan; 700183 g. Tashkent; ul.
Abdulla Kodiri, 1; Verkhovny Sud Respubliki Uzbekistan, Fax: + 998 71
144-62-93
· General Prosecutor of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Rashidjon
Hamidovich Kodirov, ul. Gulyamova 66, 700047 Tashkent, Republic of
Uzbekistan, Fax: +998 71 133 39 17, E-mail: prokuratura@lawyer.com
· National Centre for Human Rights, Senator Akmal
Saidov
Natsionalny tsentr po pravam cheloveka, 5/3, Mustakillik Maidoni, g.
Tashkent, Respublika Uzbekistan. 700029, Fax: + 998 71 139 13 56 / 45
16, E-mail: office@nchr.uz
· Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan,
Permanent Mission
of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the United Nations in Geneva, PO Box
1853, 1215 Geneva 15, Switzerland, Fax: +4122 799 43 02, E-mail: uzbekistan@bluewin.ch
Please also write to the diplomatic representations of Uzbekistan in
your respective countries.
***
Geneva - Paris, August 10, 2009
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this
appeal in your reply.
The Observatory, a FIDH and OMCT venture, is dedicated to the
protection of Human Rights Defenders and aims to offer them concrete
support in their time of need.
The Observatory was the winner of the 1998 Human Rights Prize of the
French Republic.
To contact the Observatory, call the emergency line:
[1] On July 20, a small group of independent human rights activists
held a meeting to discuss his situation. According to the information
received, on the initiative of the Committee for the Release of
Prisoners of Conscience, an operational committee was created on his
case.
UZB 006 / 0809 /
OBS 116