UZBEKISTAN'S OLDEST "POLITICAL PRISONER" RELEASED

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000634 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND DRL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL UZ SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN'S OLDEST "POLITICAL PRISONER" RELEASED Classified By: POLOFF R. FITZMAURICE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On June 4, authorities released from prison 83-year old Akhmadjan Adilov, a highly controversial figure whom some human rights activists considered to be Uzbekistan's oldest political prisoner. Adilov, who operated Uzbekistan's largest agro-industrial complex in Namangan province during the Soviet era, was sentenced to prison for economic crimes after the so-called "Cotton Scandal," in which Uzbekistan's Soviet-era leaders bilked Moscow out of billions of dollars for cotton that was never produced, was uncovered during the 1980s. Adilov was also accused of numerous human rights abuses, including rape and murder. After independence, Adilov was amnestied and released from prison by President Karimov. Adilov was sentenced to prison again in 1993 for stealing fertilizer after he attempted to create his own political party and was openly critical of President Karimov. While in prison, Adilov's sentence was extended on several occasions for possession of narcotics and allegedly violating internal prison regulations. Most likely, Adilov was released on medical grounds, as he is now almost completely blind. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) During the 1970s and early 1980s, Adilov operated Uzbekistan's largest agro-industrial complex, located in Namangan province, and he was reportedly a close confidante of both then-Uzbek communist leader Rashidov and Soviet leader Brezhnev. After the Cotton Scandal was uncovered, Adilov, along with thousands of other Uzbek officials, was tried and convicted in 1984 for embezzlement and other crimes. Embassy political assistant explained that after independence, Adilov and other Uzbek prisoners were returned to Uzbekistan from Russia and were subsequently amnestied by President Karimov, with the tacit understanding that they would stay out of politics. However, Adilov eventually formed his own political party, the Timur Justice party, and begin to openly criticize President Karimov. In 1993, he was arrested and sentenced to four years' imprisonment for allegedly stealing five tons of fertilizer. Observers believe that Adilov, like many other Uzbek businessmen, was guilty of embezzlement, but he was also most likely singled out because of his political activities. ADILOV ACCUSED OF SERIOUS HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Many observers in Uzbekistan view Adilov as a despicable human being. While in charge of the Namangan agro-industrial complex, Adilov reportedly acted as a medieval feudal lord, commanding a personal army of bodyguards. He also allegedly built his own dungeon, where he beat and killed critics and raped women and girls. Political assistant stated that many of the alleged human rights abuses were reported in the official Soviet press after Adilov's arrest. At least one observer reported traveling in Namangan during the perestroika era, after Adilov was already behind bars, and meeting residents who were still terrified by their mere mention of his name. ¶4. (SBU) Adilov's family members, including his brother Mukhsim, were known to meet with local human rights activists, some of whom referred to Adilov as a political prisoner. Some observers believe that the Adilov family is still appeared quite wealthy and might be involved in some type of organized crime. A DIFFERENT VIEW OF ADILOV? -------------- ¶5. (C) On June 6, poloff spoke with Human Rights Alliance member Viktoria Bazhenova, whose family is originally from Namagan, and whose mother, Ludmilla Kotypova, was reportedly a family friend and close confidante of Adilov since the 1970s. Bazhenova had a much more favorable impression of Adilov, remembering him as an intelligent and strong leader. Bazhenova freely admitted that Adilov was corrupt and benefited personally from the Cotton Scandal. She was well aware of the allegations that Adilov was involved in serious human rights abuses, but she did not necessarily believe that they were true. She noted that the alleged dungeon that Adilov built was in fact a nuclear bomb shelter that he was ordered to build by Soviet authorities at a local sport complex. Despite the many negative stories about him, Bazhenova reported that after independence, Adilov still enjoyed strong support among the residents of Namangan and the Ferghana Valley, and she believed that he was imprisoned because President Karimov saw him as a potential threat to his power. She believed that Adilov qualified as a political prisoner. ¶6. (C) Bazhenova also reported that Adilov's younger brother Mukhsim, who used to be his "right-hand man" at the Namangan agro-industrial complex, died last year. Bezhenova denied reports that Adilov's family was still wealthy, noting that she used to be neighbors with Adilov's son, who lived a modest existence. She further reported that Mukhsim's son currently lives with his family in Kazakhstan. COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) While some of the allegations of serious human rights abuses against Adilov might have been exaggerated by Soviet and then Uzbek authorities, his past still appears sordid enough. Most likely, Adilov was released on medical grounds, but the timing of his release could also be the result of greater U.S. and international pressure on the Uzbek government to release political prisoners, which this week also saw the release of human rights activist Mutabar Tojiboyeva. NORLAND