Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07TASHKENT1061
2007-06-05 03:36:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:  

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH PERSEVERES DESPITE DIFFICULTIES

Tags:  PHUM PGOV UZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5213
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #1061/01 1560336
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 050336Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7957
INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3081
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 9214
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 3688
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 3551
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7088
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 1256
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001061 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH PERSEVERES DESPITE DIFFICULTIES

REF: A. TASHKENT 830


B. TASHKENT 1010

Classified By: CDA BRAD HANSON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001061

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH PERSEVERES DESPITE DIFFICULTIES

REF: A. TASHKENT 830


B. TASHKENT 1010

Classified By: CDA BRAD HANSON, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: During a week-long visit to Uzbekistan, Human
Rights Watch (HRW) Europe and Central Asia Division Executive
Director Holly Cartner met with Charge and Acting DCM on June

1. Cartner, who was joined by outgoing HRW Uzbekistan Country
Director Andrea Berg, discussed HRW's difficulties in
acquiring long-term visas and accreditation for staff;
described recent meetings with Uzbek officials; provided
updates on the Umida Niyazova and Gulbahor Turayeva cases;
and explained staffing changes at HRW's Tashkent office.
Cartner assured Charge that HRW will make every effort to
remain in Tashkent. The less confrontational tone of HRW's
meetings with GOU officials is a positive sign, but its
survival in Uzbekistan will ultimately be determined by
whether Uzbekistan will grant long-term visas and
accreditation. End Summary.

ONLY SHORT-TERM VISAS AND ACCREDIATION GRANTED
-------------- -


2. (C) On June 1, during a week-long visit to Uzbekistan,
Human Rights Watch (HRW) Europe and Central Asia Division
Executive Director Holly Cartner met with Charge and Acting
DCM. She was joined by HRW's outgoing Tashkent office
director Andrea Berg. After a wait of several months, the
Government provided Cartner, an AmCit who is based at HRW
headquarters in New York, with a week-long, single entry
Uzbek visa in April. Berg explained that Cartner received
her visa at about the same time that Berg's accreditation was
renewed for three months after initially being rejected, and
an AmCit HRW Assistant received a three-month visa following
a year-long wait (ref A). Since all three events occurred
after lengthy delays and only shortly before the EU's
decision to renew sanctions against Uzbekistan, Cartner
viewed them as part of a last-minute effort by the Uzbeks to
convince the EU to lift sanctions, rather than as any sign of
support for HRW's work. The Government has not issued HRW
expatriate staff long-term visas or accreditation. The HRW
Assistant's visa will expire at the end of July, and she is
still waiting for accreditation. This assistant is an

American citizen.

Four Meetings with GOU Officials
--------------


2. (C) Cartner met with Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov,
Deputy Justice Minister Pulat Samatov, Oliy Majlis
(Parliament) Human Rights Ombudsman Sayyora Rashidova, and
National Center for Human Rights Director Akmal Saidov.
Though the meetings did not produce tangible results, for the
most part, Cartner described their tone as less hostile than
she had expected. For example, Samatov acknowledged that
HRW's alleged failure to register its logo with the Justice
Ministry was a relatively minor violation. Saidov, in
contrast, took an aggressive tone and accused HRW of biased
reporting. However, Cartner felt that Saidov's behavior was
partly theater, as he was friendly with them once their
official business had been concluded. HRW also requested
meetings with the General Prosecutor's Office and the
Ministry of Internal Affairs, but these requests were denied.

Umida Niyazova and Gulbahor Turayeva Updates
--------------


3. (C) Berg provided updates on former HRW employee Umida
Niyazova and imprisoned Andijon-based human rights activist
Gulbahor Turayeva. Berg said that since Niyazova's release
on supervised probation on May 8, she has effectively been
under house arrest and subjected to both official and
unofficial restrictions. Officially, Niyazova must return
home by 10:00 each night, but unofficially she must avoid
contact with HRW, foreign citizens and Embassies. Berg
reported that Niyazova is in good health and has been
reunited with her son. HRW has occasionally contacted
Niyazova to monitor her condition, but has avoided regular
contact. Berg said that Andijon eyewitness Gulbahor
Turayeva, who was convicted and sentenced to six years'
imprisonment on April 24, is still awaiting an appeal. Berg
said that the Government announced on May 27 that Turayeva's
appeal was now postponed indefinitely. Her appeal was
originally scheduled for May 22 in Andijon (ref B).

TASHKENT 00001061 002 OF 002



Staff Changes at HRW's Office
--------------


5. (C) Cartner said HRW will make every effort to keep its
Tashkent office open. As was earlier announced, Berg stepped
down as HRW Country Director and left Uzbekistan on June 1.
She will eventually move to Bishkek to work as a HRW Central
Asia analyst. HRW has begun the search for a new Country
Director and seeks to fill the position by September. In the
interim, HRW's Tashkent office will be augmented by two
temporary employees: George Gogia, who is already in
Tashkent, and HRW Moscow Office Deputy Director Alex Petrov,
who will arrive in July. As the two are citizens of Georgia
and Russia respectively, they do not need Uzbek visas. HRW
AmCit Assistant in Tashkent will not serve as interim country
director.

Comment: Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It
-------------- --------------


6. (C) On the surface, given the abundant mixed messages from
the Government, it may seem as though Uzbekistan cannot
decide whether it wants the organization to stay or leave.
However, there may be some method to the Uzbek tactics. The
Government understands the political benefit of allowing
Human Rights Watch to continue operating -- as well as the
political hazards of shutting it down. At the same time,
Uzbek officialdom has done everything in its power to limit
HRW's ability to function effectively, including constant
surveillance and criminal proceedings against its local
employee. As part of its cat-and-mouse game, the Government
has studiously avoided officially condemning the organization
itself. Its legal action is aimed rather at individuals
connected with Human Rights Watch, while attacks against the
institution are left to ostensibly "independent" media
outlets controlled behind the scenes by the Government.
Human Rights Watch will likely survive for the time being,
limited in its effectiveness by bureaucratic delays and
threats. All the while, Uzbek officials can tell their
Western critics that Human Rights Watch is free to operate in
Uzbekistan, as long as its employees obey the law.
HANSON