FURTHER AMNESTIES OF POLITICAL PRISONERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000126 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2018 TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV UZ SUBJECT: FURTHER AMNESTIES OF POLITICAL PRISONERS REPORTEDLY FORTHCOMING REF: A. TASHKENT 22 ¶B. 07 TASHKENT 2183 ¶C. TASHKENT 79 Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) Summary: In the past week, poloff has conversed with several human rights contacts who expressed optimism that additional high-profile political prisoners would soon be amnestied. Those reportedly in line for amnesty include Ezgulik activist Dilmurod Muhidinov, Pentacostalist pastor Dmitry Shestakov, and Andijon-based human rights activist Mutabar Tojiboyeva. Recently, the GOU also has taken some positive steps in the civil society realm, including granting preliminary approval for the registration of a German NGO, the Fredrick Neumann Foundation, and unblocking access to the websites of USAID partner organizations (septel). While these are all encouraging signs, we are still waiting for the Government to actually release a broader range of political prisoners. In a less positive development, authorities in Bukhara on January 30 detained two members of the Human Rights Alliance. End summary. EZGULIK REPORTS MUHITDINOV TO BE AMNESTIED -------------- ¶2. (C) During Ezgulik's annual board meeting on January 25, Chairman Vasiliya Inoyatova announced that prison authorities informed her that Ezgulik activist Dilmurod Muhitdinov would be amnestied soon. Muhitdinov is currently being held in prison 64-29 in Navoi province. In 2006, a court in the Ferghana Valley sentenced Ezgulik member Dilmurod Muhitdinov to five years' imprisonment on politically-motivated charges of anti-constitutional activity. Mukhitdinov was reportedly tortured in prison this year and suffered two broken arms (ref A). AMNESTIED DEFENDER MAKES APPEARANCE AT EZGULIK MEETING -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Human rights defender Karim Bozorboyev, who was amnestied earlier this month (ref A),was also present at the Ezgulik board meeting. Bozorboyev appeared to be in good health, and thanked Ezgulik for providing a lawyer, which in his words, made "all the difference" (Comment: Ezgulik received 500 dollars through the State Department's Global Human Rights Defender Fund to pay for Bozorboyev's lawyer. End note.) He also thanked the United States for advocating on his behalf. FORUM 18 CONTACT EXPECTS PASTOR TO BE AMNESTIED -------------- -- ¶4. (C) On January 25, lawyer Nail Gabdullin, one of Forum 18's main contacts in Uzbekistan, told poloff that he had sent in a written request for amnesty for imprisoned Andijon pastor Dmitry Shestakov and received a written response that officials were looking into the issue. Gabdullin was optimistic that Shestakov would be amnestied and offered to arrange a meeting with Shestakov's wife. Two other Protestants convicted of teaching religion illegally, Nikolai Zulfikarov and Salavat Serikbayev, have already had their sentences suspended under the December 2007 amnesty. Gabdullin said that a third Protestant from Karakalpakstan, Makset Djabbarbergenov, remains wanted in Uzbekistan for teaching religion illegally and is currently hiding in Kazakhstan. TOJIBOYEVA RECEIVES MEDICAL TREATMENT IN PRISON -------------- -- ¶5. (C) On January 30, poloff talked with Tojiboyeva's brother Rasul, who reported that Tojiboyeva has recently received medical treatment in prison and that her health appears to be improving. However, he was pessimistic that Tojiboyeva would be granted amnesty, noting that less than five percent of inmates at the Tashkent Women's Colony (where Tojiboyeva is being held) have been amnestied, even though the December 2007 amnesty specifically lists women as a group of individuals to be amnestied (ref B). On the other hand, Open Dialogue Project Director Mjusa Sever reported being told by GOU contacts that Tojiboyeva would be amnestied. In addition, Sever reported that the government planned to announce another amnesty during the Navruz holiday in March (ref C). HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS REPORTEDLY DETAINED IN BUKHARA -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) In a less positive development, authorities in Bukhara on January 30 detained two members of the Human Rights Alliance, Abdillo Tojiboy ugli and Elena Urlayeva, as they tried to attend a trial of seventeen individuals accused of religious extremism. According to Alliance member Akhtam Shaymardanov, who was able to briefly talk to Tojiboy ugli on his cell phone, the two were held at the Bukhara Ministry of Internal Affairs building and were later taken to the Bukhara City Criminal Court. It is still unclear on what charges they are being held. Both Tojiboy ugli and Urlayeva have been detained by authorities on several occasions in the past, usually before public protests organized by the Alliance. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Though the activists' optimism is a potentially positive sign, we are still considering how most effectively to prompt the Government to release a broader range of political prisoners. If Sever's information about another amnesty is correct, then it is possible that the Government is planning on releasing a greater number of political prisoners in March, shortly before the EU's decision in April on whether to extend its visa-ban waiver against selected Uzbek officials. NORLAND