The International Secretariat of OMCT requests your URGENT intervention in the following situation in Uzbekistan.

Brief description of the situation

The International Secretariat of OMCT has been informed by the Legal Aid Society, a member of the OMCT network, of the torture of Mr. Aliev Yakubjon, an Uzbek national, while in the City Militia Department Taskent, Uzbekistan.

According to information received, Mr. Yakubjon was first called as a witness to the case of his relative on 4th September 2004. In February 2005, a criminal case was opened against Mr. Yakubjon. After giving an undertaking to police that he would not leave his house, Mr. Yakubjon was allowed to remain at home pending the trial. Mr. Yakubjon breached the undertaking on May 13-14 and as a result was taken into custody on June 2nd. On the June 3rd or 4th, Mr. Yakubjon stated that he was beaten 50 times with a baton on his head. As a result of the beating, he developed two bald spots and high blood pressure. He was then kept in an isolation ward at the National Security Services.

On 5th July 2005, Mr. Yakubjon was brought to court to be a witness at a trial for a relative by the name of Mr. Mamedov Mahmudjon Mahamedaminovich. Mr. Yakubjon's sister, Ms. Maryamhon Yusupova, was in attendance at the court and observed bald spots on her brother's head. She also noted that he had lost 20 kilos, that he was unable to recognise his relatives and had great difficulty in answering the judge's questions. Ms. Yusupova believes that her brother was on medication during his court attendance.

A lawyer for the Legal Aid Society has filed a complaint to the relevant authorities. The International Secretariat of OMCT is gravely concerned about the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Yakubjon.

Action requested

Please write to the authorities in Uzbekistan urging them to:

1. Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Yakubjon and guarantee that he be provided with medical assistance;
2. Ensure that the procedural rights of Mr. Yakubjon are guaranteed at all times, including his right to access to counsel;
3. Order a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances of these events, notably the allegations of torture, in order to identify those responsible, bring them to trial and apply the penal and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;
4. Guarantee the respect of human rights and the fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with international human rights standards.
   
   

Addresses

• President of Uzbekistan, Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov, ul. Uzbekistanskaya 43, Rezidentsia prezidenta, 700163 Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan, Fax: +998 71 133 7258, E-mail: presidents_office@press-service.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
• 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
• 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 embassies of Uzbekistan in your respective country.

Geneva, 3rd August 2005