shahidayakub

Меня всегда удивляет отношение к женщинам со стороны узбекских политиков, как государственных так и оппозиционных. Обычно о женщинах говорят где-то в самом конце и очень коротко. Как будто, этот вопрос-назойливая муха, от которой хотелось бы поскорей отмахнутся. О женщинах говорят как о слабом поле, снисходительно и покровительственно. Женщина должна сидеть дома и воспитывать детей-в этом состоит суть гендерной политики практически всех оппозиционных движений Узбекистана.

Женщины составляют большую часть электората в Узбекистане и отсутствие гендерной программы у политических партий я считаю большим минусом. По сути дела, мне хотелось бы услышать от узбекских политиков о том, что они конкретно предлагают женщинам кроме зарплаты за то, что те будут сидеть дома и воспитывать детей.

Такой подход поставит и без того бесправных узбекских женщин в еще большую зависимость и не даст им возможность развиваться. Я считаю, что нужно абсолютно настаивать на обязательно одиннадцателетнем образовании для девочек и объявить войну ранним бракам, когда замуж выдаются чуть ли не подростки. Большинство узбекских женщин выйдя замуж фактически становится рабыней, обслуживающией свою новую семью и воспитывать детей у нее времени не бывает. Я сама выросла в махалле и видела все своими глазами. Для того, чтобы освободить женщин, нужно прежде всего создавать качественные и субсидируемые государством детские сады, в во вторых вводить программы по обучению основам малого и среднего бизнеса для женщин. Одновременно, необходимо облегчить процедуру получения микрокредитов для женщин, желающих работать самостоятельно.

В данный момент программа по охране материнства и детства нацелена на женщин. А почему бы не привлечь процесс мужчин? Из Узбекистана уезжают тысячи людей на заработки в Россию и привозят с собой венерические заболевания, в том числе и СПИД. В основном речь идет о мужчинах, которое заражают своих жен по приезду домой. Необходимо проводить работу среди мигрантов-рабочих о таких проблемах, для предотвращения риска заражения женщин, и создавать бесплатные анонимные центры где можно проверяться на наличие венерических заболеваний и получить лечение.

Вопрос домашнего насилия стоит очень остро в Узбекистане. Пока никто не проводил социологических исследований в этой области, однако то, что это широко распространенная практика, знают все. Нужно проводить пропагандистскую работу в этом направлении на государственном уровне среди мужчин и женщин разных возрастов, при привлечении махалинских комитетов, необходимо создавать телефоны доверия, а также убежища и правовую помощь для женщин, оказавшихся в такой ситуации. Особый трейнинг по выявлению признаков домашнего насилия должны проходить и врачи, чтобы оказать потерпевшим женщинам медицинскую помощь.

В данный момент в Узбекистане введены квоты для политических партий на выдвижение женщин-кандидатов. Так называемая позитивная дискриминация. Уберите эти квоты, зачем они нужны для галочки, если на самом деле женщины-кандидаты не имеют реального голоса. Я уверена, что при условии проведения честных и прозрачных выборов, при оказании необходимой помощи баллотирующимся женщинам, они пройдут и без квот. Из своего опыта работы журналистом, я заверяю вас, что узбекские женщины выступают намного лучше мужчин и в основном говорят по делу. У нас сильные, красивые и умные женщины, которые выносят на себе львиную долю экономических и социальных трудностей, с которыми сталкивается Узбекистан. Так когда же, государственные и оппозиционные политики, начнут относится к женскому вопросу не как к галочке в списке, а как к вопросу о будущем страны.

Гулнора Каримова жамғармаси билан ҳамкорликнинг нимаси ёмон?
(full interview is on http://www.bbc.co.uk/uzbek/uzbekistan/2012/05/120502_fund_forum_cooperation.shtml)

Форум жамғармаси ва Гулнора Каримова халқаро миқёсда катта қизиқиш уйғотган.
Тошкентда аёллар кўкрак саратонига қарши курашга кўмак мақсадида хайрия марафони уюштирилган, хорижда эса ушбу тадбир ташкилотчиларидан бўлган АҚШдаги Сюзан Комен номидаги жамғармаси ҳамда Лувр музейи Форум жамғармаси билан ҳамкорликлари учун танқидга тутилганлар.
Тошкент шаҳри ва ундан олдин Ўзбекистон вилоятларида ташкил этилган югуриш тадбирларида Форум жамғармаси хабар қилишича, 40 мингга яқин киши иштирок этган.
Яна ушбу мавзуга оид
Мюррей: "Лондон Гулнора Каримова элчи бўлиб келишига рози бўлмаган"
Гулнора Каримова ўзининг янги қўшиқлари альбомини чиқариши ҳақида эълон қилди
Ўзбекистон ҳукумати Гулнора Каримованинг жамғармасини мукофотлади
Тўпланган маблағ 1 миллиард 50 миллион сўмни ташкил этгани ва улар аёлларда кўкрак саратонини аниқлаш ва даволашга сарфланиши хабар қилинган.
Айни пайтда Eurasianet веб-сайти халқаро ташкилотларнинг Ўзбекистондаги Форум жамғармаси билан ҳамкорликларига бағишланган мақола эълон қилган.
Мақола "Ўзбекистон: Каримованинг саховатпешалиги хавотирларни уйғотмоқда" деб номланган.
Форум жамғармаси ва Гулнора Каримова халқаро миқёсда катта қизиқишни уйғотгани ёзилган мақолада жамғарма 19 апрел куни машҳур Лувр музейи билан шерикликни бошлагани ҳақида эълон қилгани хабари берилган.
"Бунга қўшимча Комен жамғармаси 1 майда Тошкентда кўкрак саратони тадқиқотлари учун маблағ тўплашда Каримова билан иттифоқчилик қилаётгани боис сўнгги кунларда танқид остига қолди", дейилади мақолада.
"Лувр музейининг Ўзбекистондаги инсон ҳақлари поймол этилаётганига кўз юмаётгани уятлидир", деб айтган Eurasianet веб-саҳифаси билан суҳбатида Лондонда истиқомат қиладиган ўзбекистонлик журналист Шоҳида Тўлаганова.
Шоҳида Тўлаганова, Ўзбекистон мустақил ноҳукумат нотижорат ташкилотларининг фаолият юритишларига изн бермайдиган мамлакат, дейди.
Бундай вазиятда тиббиёт соҳасида ёки хотин-қизлар саломатлиги йўналишида ишламоқчи бўлган фаоллар йўли тўсилади, дейди Шоҳида Тўлаганова.
"Нега Форум жамғармаси аёллар стерилизацияси ё аёллар ўртасидаги камқонлик ёки жинсий хасталиклар муаммолари билан шуғулланмайди", дея савол қўяди журналист.
"Ундан ташқари, нега бу жамғарма Маданият вазирлигининг функцияларини ўзига олган", дейди у.
Ўзбекистон маданияти ва ва санъати форуми жамғармаси истеъдодли одамларга ўз имкониятларини очишга ёрдам бераётгани, хунармандларга моддий ва техник ёрдам бераётгани, ўзбек санъаткорлари, рассомлари ва бошқа ижодкорларининг ижодларини ташқарига олиб чиқишга ёрдамлашаётгани хабар қилинади.
Бироқ Шоҳида Тўлаганованинг айтишича, Ўзбекистонда санъаткор бўладими, рассом ёки дизайнер, бу жамғарма билан ҳамкорликка рози бўлмаса, ўзича "ҳеч нарсага эриша олмайди".

This is I think a typical story for Uzbekistan, but to the outsider like me, it says a lot about how things are done/not done in the country. My mother's exit visa is about to expire, so she goes to the local OVIR office to get a new one. She was also wondering whether she should get new Uzbek passport, which was introduced last year and which eventually every Uzbek citizen should have.
But the Head of Ovir was perplexed by her question and told her to go the British Embassy and ask then whether her current Uzbek passport is ok with them. Why? because my mother has a UK visa which is still valid for another year. But, never less, this visa has nothing to do with the new UZbek passport. Instead of explaining to my mother that the old passport is still valid for at least a year or two, the guy sends her to the foreign embassy. How ridiculous is that?!
My question is how much this guy paid for his job, since it looks like he is totally unqualified for it?

Khadija Ismayil is the best investigative journalist in Azerbaijan. She is a woman of incredible courage, talent and drive, someone whose voice speaks louder than anyone else in the Azerbaijani media. She is not afraid to pursue the most dangerous stories, including those about the corruption of the family of the President.
I love this voice and I know that many others love it too. However, Azerbaijan’s ruling elite hates it—they hate it so much that they were willing to summon the whole might of the machinery of the state in order to silence one woman. On March 8, she and her close family received packages which continued intimate photos with the threat to expose them if she didn’t stop her investigative reporting (more on this story can be found here:
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/azerbaijan-must-investigate-smear-campaign-against-radio-free-europe-reporter-2012-03-15).

Khadija reacted with defiance by going public with the threat against her, and saying that she would not be intimidated by any such threats. As a result, the threat was implemented on a website which usurped the name of one of Azerbaijan’s leading opposition parties, Musavat.
Would this threat and attack stop Khadija? Never! Those who came up with this plan made a very serious miscalculation. First of all, the obviously do not have the slightest idea about Khadija's personality. These operatives have simply not done their homework. Secondly, they have achieved the total opposite result from what they were intending: instead of damging the reputation of Khadija Ismayil, they have damaged the reputation of President Aliev and his immediate family, and with them everyone else who is associated with this regime. The huge international outcry and publicity this case has generated is clearly beyond the regime's wildest imagination.

Azerbaijan’s ruling elite tries very hard to portray themselves as civilised, Western-oriented people. They are desperate for international recognition, and as a result they are spending millions of dollars of state funds on preparations for hosting the Eurovision song contest and a variety of bids to host sporting events, including the Olympics.

These efforts remind me of someone who puts new clothes on their unwashed body—they still stink. These actions against this brave woman represent a despicable example of Azerbaijan’s continued repression of a free press. I am interested to see how the Azerbaijani government will handle the PR disaster they have created with their assault on Khadija Ismayilov, and to see whether they will start investigation their own investigation of this episode of blackmail (meaning that they would investigate themselves).

Оппозиционное движение Узбекистана, Народное Движение Узбекистана, выступило с очередным призывом. На этот раз оно обращено к таксистам-объединятся в протестные группы и восставать против властей (http://www.fergananews.com/news.php?id=18315&mode=snews). Очередной призыв в "никуда" был распространен отделом пропаганды движения. Те, кто придумывает эти призывы наверное не понимает, нескольких ключевых моментов. Во-первых люди сами по себе не организуются, народ надо организовывать для принятия участия в подобных акциях. Во-вторых, даже если таксисты станут протестовать, дальше что? Их разгонят, арестуют, дадут срок, а кто будет кормить их семьи? Скорее всего не НДУ. Мне, честно говоря, поднадоело это пустозвонье и я хочу обратиться с призывом к НДУ временно объявить мораторий на призывы и заняться делом.

Прошла ровно неделя как в Согде (Таджикистан) был задержан местный репортер Би-Би-Си, Уринбой Усмонов. Несмотря на то, что формально ему не предъявлено официального обвинения, власти уже заявили от том, что он является членом запрещенной исламской партии Хезб-ут-Тахрир. отказывается в встрече с адвокатом и родственниками. Заявления Европейского Союза, ОБСЕ, посольства Британии и США, не говоря уже о международных журналистских организаций игнорируются властями Таджикистана. Страна, которая получает огромную помощь со стороны международного сообщества, позволяет себе попирать права ни в чем не виновного журналиста гражданина страны итаким образом. К чему эта помощь? К чему многолетние трейнинги, которые страны-доноры, в том числе и ОБСЕ проводят в странах Центральной Азии в с правоохранительным органами по основным правам человека? Это просто на ветер выбрашеные деньги. Сегодня мы проведи пикет около посольства Таджикистана в Лондоне, мы просили, чтобы представитель посольства вышел к нам и принял петицию за освобождение Уринбоя Усмонова, которая за 3 дня подписали более 300 человек http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/international/2011/06/110617_bbc_tajik_journalist_appeal.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/uzbek/uzbekistan/2011/06/110620_urinboy_protest.shtml
К нам никто не вышел, но я и мои коллеги намерены продолжать кампанию по оказанию общественного давления для того, чтобы добиться освобождения нашего коллеги. А международному донорскому сообществу следует сделать выводы.


It has been a week since the arrest of the BBC reporter in Tajikistan, Urinboy Usmonov. He is still denied legal representation and is not allowed to see his family. Tajik authorities have already made him guilty in a crime he never committed - they accuse him in membership in banned Islamic party, Hizb-ut Takhrir (HT). This has never been proven and is total lie. Urinboy is a professional journalist, who was reporting on wide range of issues, including HT. By detaining him without proper formal charges, legal representative-they violate his basic human rights, I am not even talking about freedom of press here. Tajik authorities continue to ignore calls to release Mr Usmonov from the EU, OSCE, British Embassy, US Embassy and a number of international journalists organisations. Why the country which receives substantial amount of funds from international donors, allows itself to behaves this way? What is the purpose of numerous trainings which the EU, USA and OSCE are conducting for law enforcement in Central Asian countries, if at the end the result is still the same. This is total waste of money.
Myself and few of my colleagues picketed Tajik Embassy today to protest against Mr. Usmonov's detention. We asked to see the representative of the Embassy to hand over our petition which in a matter of 3 days was signed by more then 300 people. No one has come to see us. http://www.bbc.co.uk/uzbek/uzbekistan/2011/06/110620_urinboy_protest.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/international/2011/06/110617_bbc_tajik_journalist_appeal.shtml

For more information on Urinboy Usmonov please visit my blog on detained/jailed Uzbek journalists: http://uzbjournalists.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/uzbektajik-journalist-urinboi-usmon-should-be-released-immediately/

Проблем у оппозиции очень много, я просто хочу остановится на некоторых из них, которые по моему мнению, достаточно серьезные:

1. Оппозиция представлена старыми кадрами, которые ведут свое начало со времен перестройки. Молодых кадров в лидерстве нет, если не считать некоторых представителей организации Андижан за справедливость и возрождение.

2. Как стара оппозиция, так стары и ее идеи. Нового ничего не предлагается,а основным лейтмотивов является свержение Каримова и наказание его дочерей. Никого нового и конкретного, в частности, в области реформирования экономики, образования, здравоохранения, решение проблемы Каракалпакстана, облегчения жизни граждан страны и так далее, нет и врядли будет. Идея фикс-свержение Каримова...

3. Ничего не говорится о том, что будет после того как свержение произойдет. Даже на вопрос о том, какая форма государственного устройства будет устелена в случае прихода оппозиции и власти, четкого ответа получить не удается.

4. У большей части оппозиции имидж исламистов или же людей очень религиозных. Ничего плохого в этом нет, но ту часть населения, которая ратует за светский образ жизни, это отпугивает.

5. Среди ключевых фигур в оппозиции, которые принимают решения нет женщин, а ведь женщины составляют значительную часть электората.

6. Про отсутствие молодежи я уже упоминала выше.

Быть в оппозиции-это значит быть на несколько шагов впереди правительства. Как говорил мой покойный друг, Алишер Саипов "надо работать на опережение". Оппозиция в нынешнем виде, позади власти.

Governance

Reform policies should concentrate on ensuring accountability of government organizations and individuals, greater public participation in decision-making, ensuring that government policies, rules and regulations are transparent, setting up a coherent strategy to combat corruption. This can only be achieved by creating of strong mechanism of checks and balances, decentralization of power and strengthening non-governmental organizations and public associations.


Private sector

Crucial reforms need to be carried on to revive private sector, in particular small and medium businesses. Reasonable legal and regulatory system that is applied in a transparent and predictable manner is required to secure stable development of the private sector. This is not possible without judicial reform and tackling the problem of corruption. It is also absolutely necessary reduce government interference in the development of private sector. Without strong private sector, Uzbekistan will never achieve solid economic growth.

Agriculture

Uzbek farmers should be given economic freedom to choose what crops to plant. They should be free from any administrative control and interference. Cotton quotas imposed by the state every year should be abolished. Commitment to agricultural reform should be implemented hand by hand with the reform in water management system.

Civil service

Independent public service commission should be established to ensure high standard and professional work in state structures. Recruitment and promotion should be based on merit to eradicate nepotism and corruption in public administration.

Rehabilitation Commission

All religious and political prisoners should be pardoned and rehabilitated. Special Rehabilitation Commission should be established to look into all cases of conviction of religious and political prisoners. The Commission should work in close cooperation with local and international human rights organization. The Commission will also investigate mass human rights violations, such as Andijan massacre, murders of prominent members of clergy and opposition and bring perpetrators of crime to justice.

The mandate of the Commission should include restoration of the right of property or compensation to owners of small and medium businesses, which were unlawfully taken over by the authorities. This is particularly relevant to people whose business property was taken over by the state as a result of unlawful imprisonment, owners of small businesses in the big markets which were destroyed by the state and victims of the arbitrary decision of the local authorities.

Migrant labor

Negotiations with the government of Russia on migrant labor from Uzbekistan should be urgently initiated to establish mechanisms of legalization, regulation and protection of the rights of Uzbek migrants in Russia. Uzbek consulates should be opened in Russia’s regions with the large concentration of Uzbek migrants in order to assists them in securing their rights.

Child labor

Shameful practice of using child labor should and will be completely eradicated in Uzbekistan.

Diaspora

Clear, coherent and balanced policy should be worked out about ethnic Uzbeks, who live in neighboring Central Asian countries and in “far abroad”. Tragic events in the southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 showed, that ethnic Uzbeks need protection and assistance from Uzbekistan. There should be Ministry for Diaspora, which will work with ethnic Uzbeks in neighboring Central Asian countries and “far abroad”, with a mandate to protect, assist and support cultural and educational development of Uzbeks abroad.

Karakalpakstan

People of Karakalpakstan should be the primary decision-makers about health, environment and affairs of their region. Autonomous status of Karakalpakstan should be respected and the republic should be treated as such.

Gender policy

Current state programme on gender policy is general and does not address specifics of Uzbek culture. It exists only for the sake of being there. Detailed government programme should be worked out to address issues such as domestic violence, protection of vulnerable women, empowering women by re-training and microcredit schemes. Women should be more involved in political decision making both on grassroot and state level.

Establishment of yet another movement was announced today, May 4th in Dusseldorf, Germany. It is called Uzbekistan People's Movement (O'zbekiston Khalq Harakati) http://www.uznews.net/news_single.php?lng=ru&sub=top&cid=30&nid=17111
The founders are ERK Democratic Party, non-governmental organisation Tayanch and organisation which unites refugees from Andijan abroad-Andijan for Justice and Reconciliation. Exactly the same organisations set up a little more then a year ago "Union of May 13th", which also pronounced great goals, but so far achieved nothing, but announcing of another movement, now however with more ambition title-People's movement. I have a serious problem with any party of movement which starts claiming to talk on behalf of the people. I believe that only democratically elected representatives can speak on behalf of the nation. In case of Uzbekistan, neither the government, parliament or opposition can do so.

Representatives of the new movement are talking about bringing people to the streets to protest against Karimov. My question is: how they going to do it while being abroad and in case people do get to the streets, will the leaders be standing together with them, or manage crowds from miles away in the safety of Western Europe?
More importantly,despite serious attempts on my side to get answer to the question "what kind of state Uzbekistan will be if they come to power, religious or secular", I still don't get a straight answer. The nearest to the answer was given by Muhammed Salih. In an interview to the RFE/RL he said that Uzbekistan is going to be not a democracy, but " a state based on laws". Again, what kind of laws?....

I truly want to believe that leaders of the new movement seriously worked out plans, scenarios and etc of any action they announce and plan to implement in Uzbekistan. I want to believe that they think about thousands of lives which are going to be at stake, if a popular uprising starts in Uzbekistan. However, so far, they didn't convince me.

The Public Commission has been established on the basis of the Interim Committee on Coverage of Events in Southern Kyrgyzstan, which has ended its work after publishing five news briefs. The Public Commission is continuing with the same mission, which is to provide coverage of ongoing events in Southern Kyrgyzstan with a focus on examining the statements of victims of violence, reporting violations of the rights of these victims to international observers and organizations, and creating files on those people who have been involved in organizing violent actions.

The Public Commission will analyze the data it receives and compare it to the official version of events. It will also be sending all of its information and conclusions to international organizations, media outlets and to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly’s International Independent Commission for Inquiry that has been established to investigate the Southern Kyrgyzstan. We will also monitor the work of the International Independent Commission for Inquiry itself.

The Public Commission and its new, expanded team are ready to collaborate with any other organizations, initiative groups and experts that share its goal of trying to understand and make public the full truth of the events that began in June in Southern Kyrgyzstan. We invite all such groups to contribute to our activity.


News briefs for 28 July 2010


OSCE mission is under the threat of disruption

On 26 July 2010 a protest action was organized outside the headquarters of the OSCE in Osh. A crowd of approximately 200 people, including among it the former ombudsman of Kyrgyzstan and now leader of the informal association “Muslim Union” Tursunbay Bakir olu, took part in the protest. The participants demanded that OSCE officials, monitors and policemen not be allowed in to Kyrgyzstan. Among other things they carried posters, chanted slogans and held a scarecrow dressed as an OCSE policeman. The behaviour of the crowd was openly aggressive and it has been taken to be threatening by members of the OSCE mission in Osh. There is a real fear that from this protest, with the instigation of the local Osh authorities, could grow into violence.

The local authorities in Osh meanwhile have been increasing their pressure on OSCE officials. Several women of Kyrgyz appearance who behave aggressively have been congregating at the entrance of the OSCE headquarters in Osh, menacing and trying to prevent victims of violence from visiting the office. Due to this obstruction only five people per day, on average, are managing to see the OSCE legal specialist.


Data about the scale of the tragedy, and the names of victims

The Public Committee has collected well-documented information about the victims of violence, including those who have been killed, in Osh, Nookat and Djalalabad. The entire list consists of more than 3000 names. The information is currently being studied by lawyers and human rights activists. The UN Human Rights Council has been informed of many reports of unexplained “disappearances” of citizens, and fifty statements regarding acts of torture and violence committed by law enforcement officials are now being studied. Detailed information, including personal details of the victims, will soon be passed to the European Commission, the U.S. State Department, the OSCE, and various diplomatic missions.


* * *
The committee was informed on 25 July that 13 ethnic Uzbeks have gone missing in the last 12 days. According to witnesses, their disappearances could be linked to the involvement of the authorities. The list of those who have disappeared in this short period is as follows:
1. Mirzohid Islomboev, born in 1993
2. Shavkat Abdullaev, born in 1982
3. Bakhtiyor Khakimov, born in 1968
4. Bobir Eshonkhonov, born in 1973
5. Ikrom Abdugofurov, born in 1970
6. Mamadjon Qosimov, born in 1964
7. Bakhtiyor Tursunov, born in 1968
8. Mehmon Khakimov, born in 1985
9. Khakimjon Mehmonov, born in 1985
10. Karimillo Ahmedov, date of birth unknown
11. Gulsin Ubaydullaev, born in 1985
12. Kamoliddin Abdurakhimov, born in 1982
13. Ibrohim Iskandarov, born in 1964

* * *
A list of the Uzbeks who died during the June events in Southern Kyrgyzstan has not at this been published or announced by the authorities. However the names of those ethnic Kyrgyz who dies has been made public in all mass media. The state television channel has been showing this list several times a day, and burial ceremonies of Kyrgyz victims are being shown on TV. This is all despite the fact that pogroms were launched only against mainly Uzbek areas of settlement, and that the number of victims among the Uzbek population obviously exceeds the number of Kyrgyz victims.


On the illegal activities of the authorities, and law enforcement agencies

The militia operations have been continuing in the areas of Osh that are densely populated with Uzbeks. The militia officials are often beating ethnic Uzbeks, and extorting money from them during these operations. Males between the ages of 12 to 35 are often arrested. They are forced to give false statements against themselves, their neighbors as well as friends from school and work. Meanwhile law enforcement agencies have been instituting proceedings against Uzbeks who are found with gunshot injuries.


* * *
On 16 June 2010, the household of the family Zokirov in the village of Sharq was visited by four Kyrgyz men, who introduced themselves as officials of the security services. After searching the house, they arrested Hushruh Zokirov (date of birth 11.08.79) and took him away. Family members believe that Hushruh is in the solitary confinement unit of the security service building. His family has not seen him since the day he was taken away, and no lawyer is allowed to meet with him either. Hushruh’s father, Ulugbek Zokirov, is making every effort to learn about Hushruh and any charges that may have been made against him. All inquiries of Ulugbek Zokirov to authorities have been ignored.


* * *
On 18 June 2010 three soldiers arrived to the house of Lutfillo Tukaboev (date of birth 14/07/72) and arrested him. Since then his mother Minavvarhon Tukaboeva has been unable to learn which confinement unit he is being held at. Neither was she able to get permission to see her son.


* * *
There are more than 2000 ethnic Uzbeks being held in confinement unit №5 of the internal affairs office of Osh province, along with the temporary confinement unit of the internal affairs building for Osh city. At least two hundred of these men are aged between 14 to 28. Many of the detainees are severely ill, with high fevers, and festering wounds from the effects of torture: Some have had their fingernails and toe nails pulled out. Very many of the prisoners’ arms and legs, usually their elbows and knees, are covered with bruises and cuts. Others have several deep punctures (done with a sharp object) and electric burns all over their bodies. Some have severe burns at the anal area; victims say they have been penetrated with a soldering iron. These prisoners are not being fed properly, sometimes not at all. Five men from this group were recently released, but in such bad health that they will never be able to recover.

One of those released was a 70-year-old resident of Nariman village who was one of the victims of torture, whose fingernails and toe nails were pulled out. The Public Commission has taken a statement of this victim and has an audio recording of it. He says that in his case the security officials torturing him were trying to trying to extract a statement accusing a former member of Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, Inomjon Abdurasulov (an ethnic Uzbek), of various crimes.


* * *
Numerous messages have been received from Southern Kyrgyzstan stating that the militia and law enforcement authorities are arresting every ethnic Uzbek they come across. They charge them with fabricated crimes, and later extort from them money in exchange for freedom. Implicated in this behaviour toward the Uzbek population are officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, specifically its offices for Osh city and Osh province as well as inter-regional offices; and also officials of the financial police of Kyrgyzstan. In many cases victims are experiencing harassment, arrest and extortion from these various agencies at the same time.


* * *
We have received many reports of violent interrogations by law enforcement officials. It is typical of them to ask questions such as, “Why did you, Uzbeks, start killing Kyrgyz when they came to kill you? Kyrgyzstan is the land for Kyrgyz. We have allowed you to breathe and walk on our land, how dare you raise your hand to us?” This quotation comes from the statement of one witnesses but this general tone of interrogation is confirmed by many victims.


* * *
A organized group of aggressive women of Kyrgyz appearance has become active in Osh city. Witnesses claim that they are acting under the patronage of the Mayor of Osh, Melisbek Myrzakmatov. Their behaviour is becoming more and more dangerous for ethnic Uzbeks. This gang of women have on many occasions come to the registry office and begun to attach Uzbeks who are waiting in line to apply for passports. This violence is carried out in full view of state officials. These women have also been attacking ethnic Uzbeks who are trying to obtain permission to meet people in prison, as well as people who are trying to register statements on the loss of property. The law enforcement agencies of Kyrgyzstan are pretending not to notice the actions of this gang. In total eight reports from victims have been received about this issue in the course of two weeks.

* * *
There is active discussion in society about the issue of allowing a small police force under the aegis of the OSCE to enter Southern Kyrgyzstan. Among ethnic Uzbeks, people support the introduction of OSCE policemen; the state authorities in Southern Kyrgyzstan, including the law enforcement establishment, are against it. The local authorities claim that the presence of a neutral and unarmed police force may destabilize the situation in Osh, although they provide no arguments to support this claim. On 26 July 2010 an protest action against OSCE presence in Kyrgyzstan was held in front of OSCE headquarters in Osh. About 200 protestors referred to the support for their cause of the Mayor of Osh, Melisbek Myrzakmatov, who has actively spoken against any international investigation of recent violence and against the OSCE police mission.


Discrimination on grounds of nationality

According to the reports from Osh, since the beginning of the events humanitarian aid was distributed in Uzbek neighbourhoods in following ratios:
Flour – 10 kg per person
Oil – 1.5 litres per person
Sugar – 400 grams per person
Rice – 4 kg per person
Biscuits – 300 grams per person

* * *
Many Uzbek employees have been dismissed from their work places. Therefore many of them are selling their cars and other belongings and trying to leave for Russia or other countries.


* * *
The emigration wave from Kyrgyzstan still continues. At least 15 minibuses that can accommodate 12-13 passengers each are leaving from the Amir Timur district of Osh every day. There are two flights to Moscow per week, which are full, and another flight to Yekaterinburg via Bishkek. Many others are leaving for Russia via Tashkent.


* * *
Since 12-13 July 2010, the OshTV channel, which previously broadcast in the Uzbek language, has started broadcasting in the Kyrgyz language only. There are various rumours about the fate of Hayrullo Hudoyberdiev, the director of OshTV, that are circulating. Many say that he was forced to sign away his part of the ownership of OshTV after the lives of his children were threatened. His present location is unknown. Uzbek employees of OshTV are being dismissed on the slightest of grounds.


* * *
The families of Kyrgyz who were killed or missing after the June violence in Southern Kyrgyzstan are demanding that these victims be given the same status of the victims of the April evens in Bishkek. In this case they would each receive posthumously the title of “Altyn Batir,” or national hero of Kyrgyzstan, and their families would be paid a compensation of 1,000,000 soms (about US $21,000). This is despite the fact that many of the Kyrgyz men killed during the June violence were those who were leading the pogroms against Uzbeks, attacking Uzbek settlements and murdering the Uzbeks they found, including women and children in some cases. A small number of these attackers were killed as Uzbeks tried to defend themselves. Therefore this effort is an attempt to turn those who murdered Uzbeks into national heroes. The opinion of Kyrgyzstan’s ethnic Uzbek citizens on this matter has not been requested or considered.


* * *
A Russian woman witnessed the following incident, which happened to an Uzbek taxi driver who dropped her off near her house on Mir Street in Osh. An official dressed in a militia uniform approached the driver asking of the Uzbek driver, “How many Kyrgyz did you kill? Why haven’t you left Kyrgyzstan?” and similar questions. When the woman tried to interfere into this unpleasant conversation, the officials told her to leave, and that if she refused they would call five or six Kyrgyz women who would beat her up and lock her in the basement.


New details of tragic events on 11-14 June

On 11 June 2010, several bandits with Kyrgyz appearance broke into a house on Sun Yat-sen Street that belongs to Hamid Ibaydullaevich Matmusaev. The men shouted, “Death to Uzbeks!” and threatened to kill Matmusaev and his family. They settled for humiliating those that were in the house and stealing everything they had of value, including a car (a white 1993 Daewoo Tico, registration number O8580R). It has been impossible for Matmusaev to get the police to do any sort of investigation of this incident.


* * *
On 12 June 2012, a crowd of rampaging people raided an Uzbek neighbourhood in Amir Timur district of Osh. Oybek Akhmadjanov (date of birth 17.02.1991), armed only with a stick in his hand, joined the other residents of the neighbourhood to try to protect their homes from pogroms and fire. Within an hour his mother, Mavluda Hakimovna Akhmadjanovna, was informed that her son was dead. She later found his body in the hospital, very badly burned. So far Akhmadjanovna has been unable to register her complaint on the fact of her son’s murder. Her application to have the case investigated has been neither accepted nor registered.


* * *
Witnesses report that on 10-11 June 2010, bandits broke into the clinic “Kasiyat” on Masaliev Street in Osh, which along with its adjacent mosque serves the ethnic Uzbek community. Several female employees at the clinic were raped, and the clinic and mosque were set on fire.



* * *
On 13 June 2010, the “Shamshad” mosque on Navoiy Street of Osh was looted and set on fire. It serves the Uzbek community.

On 11 June 2010 at the time of the Friday prayer, the “Imom at Tirmiziy ” mosque in Furqat district of Osh was ransacked by raiders who attacked the mosque and the parishioners who were inside. Fortunately they managed to defend themselves and to save the mosque from fire. However there are signs of fire damage on the premises of the mosque, and many items of equipment has been broken.


* * *
On 11-13 June 2010 the residents of Verhne-Uvamskiy district were attacked by a furious crowd of people intend to killing Uzbeks and burning down their houses. The Public Commission has obtained a list of victims from this district. Of those killed, all 42 appear to have been ethnic Uzbeks; another 42 were injured, of which 30 were Uzbek and 12 ethnic Kyrgyz. The home addresses of the victims have been obtained and are available. The Kyrgyz injured there were residents of other districts. Many of the Uzbeks who were injured suffered from gunshot wounds, knife wounds and burns of varying severity. According to witness reports, 22 residents of Verhne-Uvamskiy district have been arrested since that time—all of them ethnic Uzbeks. Their families report that they are being tortured in custody, and being forced to give false evidence against themselves as well as their friends and family. According to the fabricated evidence that detainees were forced to sign their names to, the residents of Verhne-Uvamskiy district burned down their own houses and raped their own women.

The arrested Uzbeks have not been allowed to see their lawyers or family members. Meanwhile the Kyrgyz victims who died in Osh during attacks on Uzbek neighbourhoods are being proclaimed as patriots who gave their lives for their motherland.

It has become standard operating procedure for law enforcement agencies to offer protection exclusively to ethnic Kyrgyz. This practice not only breaches the basic principles of law and justice but also does not take into consideration the fact that it was ethnic Kyrgyz who were overwhelmingly responsible for the violence of June 2010.


* * *
The only seven-storey building in the Osh district of Osh city is occupied by mainly Kyrgyz residents, but on the ground floor are offices of several commercial organizations belonging to Uzbeks. All of these offices were subjected to pogroms and fires.


The reaction of Uzbek Diaspora to the events in Kyrgyzstan

The Public Commission will be presenting the points of view of respected representatives of society.


Respected religious preacher
Obidhon Kori Nazarov made a speech
on the events in Kyrgyzstan
(the full text is attached).

He states:
“Today one can clearly observe how leaders of Muslim countries in their policies isolate themselves from ordinary people, and from their grief. They do not see the tragedy of people as their own, and they deal with people’s everyday problems only after dealing with their own. The majority of today’s leaders are keen to establish their own security before the safety of their nations, thinking of the ways of hold their positions for a longer time. The spirit of nationalism prevails in their policies.”

Citing the verse from Koran, that says: “O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other, not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you.” (Al Hujarat:13) Obidhon Kori Nazarov stresses that no ethnicity or nationality is better than other.

He also says:
Unfortunately the Kyrgyz authorities showed no justice against unthinkable oppression and mass murder. Where did the leadership’s objectivity and courage go? There is no point to speak of bravery and courage when these leaders haven’t got even human willpower! The Kyrgyz authorities are far away from justice and truth. Would the Kyrgyz authorities or mayor of Osh city dare to say: “People should and will be punished for having committed crimes according to Kyrgyz laws whether they are members of my family or not.” Would it be considered wrong to say anything of this sort? Why do none of the government officials have the courage to say this…

Where is the justice? Where is benevolence? Where is the shame?

Officials have been arresting and torturing peaceful citizens instead of the criminals. Human rights activists and journalists are being abused and all their video and photo material is being confiscated. What is the meaning of all this?

He concludes saying:
“Kyrgyz authorities, please treat all your people equally! Do not discriminate against any nation! Go and visit the homes of the raped, humiliated, burned alive, murdered! Express your condolences! Beg for their compassion because you couldn’t protect them! Call the military to order! Suppress their hate to people!”

“Those who killed Uzbeks are also the enemies of Kyrgyz nation, freedom, and Islam. We hope they will receive and serve their punishment soon.”

“We pray to Allah for peace for all ethnicities living in Kyrgyzstan: Kyrgyz, Uzbek, Uyghur, Dungan, Russians and others. We wish to the Kyrgyz authorities strong political will, and the power to treat every resident of Kyrgyzstan equally during these hard days.”

Website «Islom Ovozi»: http://www.islomovozi.com/?p=685

Pitiful condition of refugees in Uzbekistan

According to the report of human rights activist Elena Urlaeva, there are still hundreds of refugees from Southern Kyrgyzstan remaining in Uzbekistan. She has met many of them and is prepared to give evidence that many are not willing to return to their homeland. “The refugees are often hungry and in desperate need of psychological and financial support. There is no one to help them,” says the human rights activist. There is no office of the UN High Commission on Refugees in Uzbekistan, and the Red Cross has been ignoring requests of the refugees. They do not have the option of going to foreign embassies as their presence in Uzbekistan is illegal they cannot get through security.


* * *
Households in the Ferghana valley in Uzbekistan are now often visited by soldiers who search the premises for refugees from Kyrgyzstan. Those who are found are taken from Uzbekistan by force, and passed to Kyrgyz soldiers. It is known that Uzbek men who have returned to Kyrgyzstan are brutally treated and beaten by border security soldiers. Women are also treated roughly. Everyone is searched and their money and valuables are confiscated.


* * *
A group of activists is continuing to collect humanitarian aid from Uzbekistan. However exporting the aid to Kyrgyzstan has been impossible, as all these efforts have been blocked by Uzbek border security soldiers and customs.


Uzbek authorities are securing the border with Kyrgyzstan

At least 15 meters of new wall has been built near the “Dustlik” customs point alongside the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border. This wall, which was ordered to be constructed by the Uzbek authorities, is one meter thick and seven meters high. Beside the wall, there is also a four-meter-deep canal dug alongside the entire Kyrgyz border.
* * *

We request to humanitarian organisations that they contact applicants in Southern Kyrgyzstan who are urgently awaiting food and items of immediate necessity—for details contact us via Skype at «AssoHRCAOsh»

* * *
The Public Commission does not disclose the names of its sources in order to protect their safety; however we are willing to pass along their contact details to international humanitarian organizations.


Members of the Public Commission for Investigation of Events in Southern Kyrgyzstan:

1. Nadejda Atayeva, Coordinator and contact person of the committee, President of “Human Rights in Central Asia” Association (asiecentrale@neuf.fr; n.atayeva@gmail.com)

2. Osh Initiative Group
3. Jodgor Obid, poet, member of international PEN club, Austria
4. Shahida Yakub, Director of “Uzbekistan Initiative London” organisation
5. Bakhodyr Musaev, sociologist, Uzbekistan