HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ATTACKED AT TASHKENT TRAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000165 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/07/2018 TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV UZ SUBJECT: HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST ATTACKED AT TASHKENT TRAIN STATION REF: TASHKENT 144 Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) On February 5, Human Rights Alliance member Elena Urlayeva was reportedly attacked by five unknown women, one wielding an iron bar, at Tashkent's train station as she was attempting to board a train to Bukhara. On February 6, poloff spoke with Urlayeva by telephone, who said she was assaulted by the women as she was passing through the station's underground passageway on the way to her train. The women reportedly said nothing and began to push Urlayeva, and then she was hit twice on the head with the iron bar. Urlayeva said that her head continues to hurt, but she was otherwise not seriously injured. POLICE PROMISE TO OPEN AN INVESTIGATION -------------- ¶2. (C) As Urlayeva was being attacked, she said her screams attracted the attention of a police officer, who scattered the women. The police officer then assisted Urlayeva to her train. She was also interviewed by another police officer on the train, who promised to open an investigation into the attack. Urlayeva traveled to Bukhara with another Alliance member, Abdillo Tojiboy ugli, but he was already on the train when she was attacked. Urlayeva has reported being assaulted by unknown groups of women before, most recently on September 24, 2007, in Jizzakh province. CONTINUING TO MONITOR EXTREMIST TRIAL IN BUKHARA -------------- --- ¶3. (C) Urlayeva is currently in Bukhara, where she is continuing to monitor a trial of 13 alleged religious extremists with Tojiboy ugli. On January 30, Bukharan authorities detained Urlayeva and Tojiboy ugli for approximately eight hours after they tried to lead a protest (by holding up placards criticizing Bukharan officials) in front of the courthouse where the trial is being conducted. Urlayeva said that the two had no plans to hold up placards again today, as they were warned they would be arrested again if they attempted to do so. Instead, the two are standing near the courthouse and talking with relatives of the accused. As on January 30, the two have been again denied entry to the courtroom. However, they reported that one family member from each of the accused has been allowed to attend today's hearing. COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) Given the widespread attention that Urlayeva's detention in Bukhara on January 30 received in the media, the attack could be seen as a not-to-subtle warning for her to stay away from Bukhara and the trial. It will be interesting to see to what degree the police follow up on their promise to investigate the assault (although we are not expecting much). At first glance, it may appear odd that groups of unknown women are attacking human rights activists in Uzbekistan, but this is not the first time that such an attack has been reported. For example, a group of unknown women assaulted Jizzakh-based human rights activist Bakhtiyor Hamroyev in August 2006, an attack witnessed by British poloff Benjamin Greenwood. NORLAND