Case UZB 131017
Arbitrary detention / Fear for the safety
The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Uzbekistan.
Brief description of the situation
The
International Secretariat of the OMCT has been informed by reliable
sources of the arbitrary arrest and detention of prominent independent
journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev, on
what appear to be politically motivated charges. OMCT is extremely
concerned for his safety, amid growing fears that he might be at risk of
being tortured.
According to the information received, on September 27, 2017, Mr. Bobomurod Abdullaev, 44, went missing after leaving his house in Tashkent at around 13:30.
He was held incommunicado until September 29, when authorities informed
Mr. Abdullaev’s wife that he was detained on suspicion of theft. On the
same day, the Uzbekistan’s National Security Services (SNB) searched
his house for over five hours. His computer, technical equipment and
books were confiscated.
On 1st October 2017, Yunusabad District Criminal Court in Tashkent in camera charged Mr. Abdullaev with “attempts to overthrow the constitutional order” under Article 159-4 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code and ordered his pre-trial detention. If convicted, Mr. Abdullaev faces up to 20 years in prison.
As
of publishing this Urgent Appeal, Mr. Abdullaev would reportedly be
held in a National Security Service (MXX) pre-trial detention centre. He
has been denied access to a lawyer and family members; only his wife
was allowed to see him briefly on 1st October.
The
International Secretariat of the OMCT expresses its deep concern about
the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Bobomurod Abdullaev, amid growing fears that he might be tortured in a country where torture remains endemic.
To
that extent, the OMCT recalls that the UN Human Rights Committee
(CCPR), in its concluding observations to Uzbekistan in 2015, had
already denounced the “harassment, surveillance, arbitrary arrest and
detention, torture and ill-treatment by law enforcement officers and
prosecutions on trumped-up charges of independent journalists,
government critics and dissidents, human rights defenders and other
activists, in retaliation for their work”.
OMCT
urges the competent authorites of Uzbekistan to guarantee Mr.
Abdullaev’s safety at all times, to immediately release him, to drop all
charges against him since his arrest appears to be solely based on the
peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression, and to ensure,
pending release, that he has full access to a lawyer of his choice and
his family.
OMCT
also urges the Uzbek authorities to guarantee the rights to freedom of
expression protected under the Uzbek Constitution and international law,
and reminds the Uzbek government of its international obligation to
uphold the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment or punishment.
Actions requested
Please write to the authorities in Uzbekistan urging them to:
i. Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Abdullaev;
ii. Grant him full access to a lawyer of his choice and his family as well as guarantee that he is examined by independent doctors and receive adequate medical care if necessary;
iii. Immediately release Mr. Abdullaev and drop all criminal charges against him since his arrests appear to be solely based on the peaceful exercise of his right to freedom of expression;
iv. Ensure
the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the
country in accordance with national laws and international human rights
standards.
Addresses
· Mr. Azizov Abdusalom Abdumavlanovich, Minister of Internal Affairs. Fax: + 998 71 233 89 34. Email: mvd@mvd.uz, info@mvd.uz
· Mr. Abdulaev Ikhtior Bakhtiorovich, General Prosecutor of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Fax: +998 71 133 39 17. E-mail: prokuratura@lawyer.com
· Mr. Abdulaziz Komilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Fax: + 998 71 139 15 17. E-mail: rnews@mfa.uz
· Ms. Ulugbek Mukhammadiev, Parliamentary Commissioner for Human Rights. Fax: +998 71 139 85 55. E-mail: office@ombudsman.gov.uz
· Mr. Ulugbek Lapasov, Permanent Mission of Uzbekistan to the United Nations in Geneva. Fax: +41 22 799 43 02. Email:uzbekistan@bluewin.ch
· H.E. Mr. Vladimir Norov, Ambassador, Embassy of Uzbekistan to Belgium. Fax. +32 2 672 39 46 Email: embassy@uzbekistan.be
Please also write to diplomatic representations of Uzbekistan in your respective countries. A list can be found here.
Geneva, 13 October 2017
Kindly inform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in your reply.
Among others, Mr. Abdullaev is the founder of the media project Ozod Ovoz (Free Voice) and worked as a correspondent for the London-based Institute for War & Peace Reporting, as well as to the Uzbek service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, locally known as Ozodlik.
