RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY NAMANGAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000439 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2016 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ SUBJECT: RADIO FREE EUROPE/RADIO LIBERTY NAMANGAN CORRESPONDENT RELEASED REF: A) 05 TASHKENT 2318 B) 05 TASHKENT 3305 C) 05 TASHKENT 3054 Classified By: AMB. JON R. PURNELL FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Namangan correspondent Nosir Zokir was released from prison on February 26 after serving a six-month sentence at a Namangan detention facility. Zokir was convicted in August 2005 for insulting a member of the National Security Service (Ref A). Zokir thanked poloff for U.S. efforts to obtain his release. He added that he was not beaten or otherwise physically ill-treated while in confinement. (Note: Zokir is still in Namangan and we have so far only spoken to him on the telephone. End note.) ¶2. (C) With the closure of RFE/RL's Tashkent office in December (Ref B),Zokir is now without a job. He told poloff that he hopes to continue cooperating with his former employer as well as with other radio outlets. (Note: It is unclear if the GOU is still considering additional criminal charges against Zokir for allegedly insulting the president -- Ref C. End note.) ¶3. (C) Comment: Zokir's imprisonment was one of the most egregious violations of media freedom following the May 2005 Andijon violence. While his release is good news, we remain concerned that the GOU could wield the threat of invoking additional charges against him should he ever make statements or engage in activities of which it disapproves. PURNELL