HUMAN RIGHTS PROTEST CONTINUES UNIMPEDED FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 002153

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/21/2017
TAGS: PHUM PGOV UZ
SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS PROTEST CONTINUES UNIMPEDED FOR
SECOND DAY

REF: A. TASHKENT 2131

B. TASHKENT 2113

Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D)


1. (C) Summary: On December 20 and 21, the Human Rights
Alliance held a small public protest in Tashkent without
incident, in marked contrast to previous failed attempts this
year to hold similar events. Eight activists participated,
holding posters calling for the release of political
prisoners and criticizing the imminent presidential election.
Poloff noted that the protestors were far outnumbered by
plain-clothed law enforcement officials, who carefully
monitored the event but made no effort to intervene. The
protest also was observed by an OSCE election monitor on the
first day and by international journalists on both days.
Separately, several prominent human rights activists
complained to poloff that police surveillance of their
activities had increased noticeably in the past week, and
Ezgulik was officially denied permission to monitor the
upcoming presidential election. The true test of the
government's apparent newfound tolerance for public dissent,
though, is whether this approach survives the December 23
election. End summary.


2. (C) On December 21, a small public protest led by
activists of the Human Rights Alliance continued unimpeded
for a second day in Tashkent. The eight protestors were
standing on a busy intersection near the General Prosecutor's
Office and holding banners calling for the release of
imprisoned human rights activist Mutabar Tojiboyeva and
recently arrested dissident Yusuf Jumaev (ref A).
Self-declared presidential candidates and Alliance members
Abdillo Tojiboy and Aktam Shaymardanov were also present and
held banners criticizing the upcoming presidential election.


3. (C) According to Alliance activist Elena Urlayeva, who
also participated, authorities carefully monitored the
protestors but made no attempt to interfere or stage any type
of provocation. During the Human Rights Day roundtable at
the Embassy on December 10, Urlayeva noted that the Alliance
was able to hold a protest at the same location on December 8
(ref B) In contrast, several similar protests by the Alliance
and other human rights activists were reportedly disrupted by
authorities earlier this year.

MORE COPS THAN PROTESTORS
--------------


4. (C) Poloff observed that the protestors were greatly
outnumbered by plain-clothed law enforcement officers, most
likely National Security Service (NSS) officers, who made
little effort to hide themselves. They observed the event
from at least six parked cars across the street. Poloff also
saw several persons photographing the protestors from passing
cars. A few other individuals stood much closer to the
protestors and were obviously listening to poloff's
conversations with the protestors and journalists covering
the event.


5. (C) During the hour that poloff was present, few ordinary
citizens dared to walk past the protestors, although several
of those who did interacted with them, with a few even
offering words of support. Poloff noticed larger groups of
people watching the protest from across the street. The
protest also visibly caught the attention of commuters in
cars and buses, some of whom appeared to be staring in
disbelief as they passed by.

PROTEST COVERED BY INTERNATIONAL PRESS
--------------



6. (C) On December 20, Reuters covered the first day of the
protest, and quoted Shaymardanov as saying that the upcoming
presidential election was an "illegal attempt to grab power."
Urlayeva told poloff that an Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) election monitor was also
present on the protest's first day. On the second day, there
were no OSCE monitors, but the protest was covered by a local
RFE stringer and two Almaty-based journalists from Agence
France-Presse (AFP). One of the AFP journalists, Antoine
Lambroschini, told poloff that his Uzbekistan accreditation
expires in January and he was doubtful that it would be
renewed. He also mentioned that he knew few other
international journalists still accredited in Uzbekistan. On
December 20, a local Reuters stringer told Information
Officer that five Reuters journalists received accreditation
to cover the election.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS BEING WATCHED MORE CLOSELY
-------------- --------------


7. (C) In the past few days, several other human rights
activists complained to poloff of being watched more closely
than usual by law enforcement officers. On December 20,
Tashkent-based human rights activist Surat Ikramov told
poloff that his home and office (in the same building) were
being watched 24 hours a day by unidentified men in two cars
during the past week. The cars also followed him around
Tashkent. On December 18, Ezgulik Chairman Vasila Inoyatova
described similar stepped up surveillance to poloff. Both
Ikramov and Inoyatova surmised that the recent increase in
surveillance was tied to the upcoming election. However,
both observed that the level of GOU physical interference and
harassment had gone gown in recent days.

EZGULIK DENIED ACCREDITATION TO OBSERVE THE ELECTION
-------------- --------------


8. (C) During a meeting with the Ambassador on December 18,
Inoyatova said that Ezgulik was officially denied
accreditation by the Central Election Committee (CEC) to
monitor the presidential election. According to Inoyatova,
the Law on Presidential Elections allows any organization to
make an application with the CEC to observe the election
(Note: Ezgulik is one of only two registered local human
rights organizations in Uzbekistan. End note.) After
reportedly confirming with the CEC what documentation would
be required, Ezgulik submitted its application on December 3.
However, on December 18, Ezgulik was reportedly denied
accreditation to observe the election because it had failed
to submit a "recommendation letter." According to Inoyatova,
she was never informed in advance that such a letter was
required and nothing about it is described in the law. She
indicated that Ezgulik will go ahead with its own informal
observation effort regardless of whether GOU approval is
forthcoming. She appreciated the Embassy's offer to prepare
a "letter of recommendation" on her behalf but indicated she
did not want to legitimate this GOU "requirement."


9. (C) Embassy resident legal advisor examined the Law on
Presidential Elections and confirmed that it allows
organizations to apply with the CEC to observe the election.
The law states that organizations need to submit "appropriate
documentation" to the CEC at least 15 days in advance of the
election, but it does not spell out what documentation is
required.

COMMENT
--------------


10. (C) While the lack of GOU interference at recent public

protests could be taken as a positive sign, it most likely
reflects the government's desire to avoid provocation in
front of OSCE observers and international journalists in the
lead up to the December 23 presidential elections. The true
test, of course, is whether the GOU continues to tolerate
such protests after the election.
NORLAND