ANDIJON EYEWITNESS REAPPEARS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 001370 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/25/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV KIRF UZ SUBJECT: ANDIJON EYEWITNESS REAPPEARS REF: A. 05 TASHKENT 2791 ¶B. TASHKENT 1354 Classified By: CDA BRAD HANSON FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D). ¶1. (C) Mahbuba Zakirova, an Andijon-eyewitness who was reported to have disappeared in May, reappeared two days ago in Andijon province. According to Elena Urlayeva of the Human Rights Alliance, Zakirova was seen on July 23 by her nephew. She has been staying in the village of Hakan in Andijon province. She is in good health, and has been nursing her four-month old child. In a meeting on July 23 with the DATT, Yusupjon Imamov, a human rights activist loosely affiliated with the Human Rights Alliance, said he had spoken with Zakirova since her supposed disappearance. According to Imamov, she refuses to speak about her current situation, and continues to refrain from speaking about Andijon or the testimony she gave at an Andijon-related trial in 2005. On October 14, 2005, Zakirova alone testified in the one and only semi-open trial of Andijon defendants that government troops first opened fire on protesters (ref A). Her alleged disappearance in May was first reported by Deutsche Welle radio on July 11 (ref B). ¶2. (C) Comment: We are relieved to hear that Zakirova has reappeared and is in good health. The recent birth of her child may explain her supposed disappearance, as she may have left for a different region to give birth and care for it. However, based on what Imamov said, it appears that the authorities continue to pressure her not to talk about Andijon. End comment. HANSON