FREEDOM HOUSE'S DIRECTOR DEPARTS UZBEKISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000535 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM UZ SUBJECT: FREEDOM HOUSE'S DIRECTOR DEPARTS UZBEKISTAN Classified By: Amb. Jon R. Purnell for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Freedom House's Uzbekistan country director, Branka Sesto, has left Uzbekistan following the organization's decision not to appeal the March 6 Tashkent City Civil Court liquidation order. Prior to her departure, Sesto told Emboffs that the liquidation of Freedom House's Tashkent office was progressing, and that Senior Program Manager Zarko Petrovic would return to Uzbekistan as needed to complete the process. Sesto intends to move to Shymkent, Kazakhstan, where Freedom House would like to open a resource center and continue its Uzbekistan programs. ¶2. (C) Comment: Under Uzbek law the liquidation of an organization is a complicated process requiring several months to complete. In typical fashion, however, the Ministry of Justice has insisted Freedom House should be able to liquidate in a matter of weeks, and refused to extend Shesto's visa beyond March 20. Post is waiting for Freedom House to provide more details on its plans to operate offshore in Kazakhstan or possibly Kyrgyzstan. Continuing these activities offshore, however, will present a number of challenges, including the need to ensure that Freedom House activities offshore do not run afoul of local law. Additionally, Freedom House staff and/or participants would have to cross the border on a regular basis, potentially leaving them vulnerable to Uzbek authorities. End comment. PURNELL