The
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
incommunicado detention of Mr.
Sobir
Tulaganov,
the Director of the Tashkent
branch of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU).
According
to the information received, on September
19, 2007,
Mr. Tulaganov went to the Criminal
Court of the Yuzunabad District in order to be granted access to the case of
slander that was filed against him by Ms. Feruza Sokatbaeva on April
13, 2007,
on the basis of Article 139 of the Uzbek Criminal Code. However, not only was he
denied access to the case, but he was also arrested in the premises of the
tribunal on the basis of a decision of the judge, who decided to turn the
compulsory order of residence by which he has been bound in 2007, in the framework of the judicial
proceedings against him, into imprisonment. Since then, Mr. Tulaganov has been
held incommunicado. His whereabouts
remain unknown.
