Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT1025
2009-06-19 10:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: SANJAR UMAROV'S HEALTH CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
how-toVZCZCXRO3875 RR RUEHDBU RUEHSL DE RUEHNT #1025/01 1701029 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 191031Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1034 INFO CIS COLLECTIVE NATO EU COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 0247 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001025
SIPDIS
DRL FOR RACHEL WALDSTEIN
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/19
TAGS: PHUM PREL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: SANJAR UMAROV'S HEALTH CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
IN PRISON
CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy P. Buckley, Second Secretary, Department of
State, Political and Economic Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001025
SIPDIS
DRL FOR RACHEL WALDSTEIN
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/19
TAGS: PHUM PREL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: SANJAR UMAROV'S HEALTH CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
IN PRISON
CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy P. Buckley, Second Secretary, Department of
State, Political and Economic Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary: On June 17, emboffs met with members of the
Sunshine Coalition, who reported that their imprisoned leader,
Sanjar Umarov, was suffering severe mental illness in prison. On
June 18, the Ambassador met with Umarov's son Arslan, who just
finished a four-day visit in the prison with his father and
confirmed that his mental and physical health are deteriorating.
The Ambassador is prepared once again to intervene with the
Government of Uzbekistan to urge more extensive medical care and
Umarov's release on humanitarian grounds. End summary.
Meeting with Sunshine Coalition
--------------
2. (C) On June 17, pol/econ chief and poloffs met with two members
of the Sunshine Coalition, sisters Nigora and Nodira Khidoyatova.
The sisters reiterated their chief human rights complaint - the
continued imprisonment of their group's leader, Umarov, despite his
deteriorating health. They were aware of the findings of the
medical commission that examined Umarov in response to the
Ambassador's letter to President Karimov in October 2008, but
reject that he suffers from depression. "This is a much deeper,
more serious sickness," according to Nodira, who noted they stay in
close touch with relatives.
Meeting with Arslan Umarov
--------------
3. (SBU) On June 18, Ambassador Norland met with Umarov's son
Arslan, a law student in Michigan who recently came from the U.S.
to visit his father in prison during the summer recess. Arslan
reported that his father has been moved to a prison near Gazalkent
(approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Tashkent),and that the
conditions at this new prison are far better than the last,
particularly regarding improved air and water quality. Despite
this positive development, however, he said his father's condition
has worsened substantially since his previous visit last year.
4. (SBU) Arslan observed that his father is even thinner than at
previous visits, noting that he could feel his father's ribs when
he tried to embrace him. He also stated that his father smelled
strongly of urine when he arrived, and indeed urinated on himself
several times during the four-day visit. Although he is able to
walk, he needs physical prodding and assistance to go to the
lavatory, and also needs assistance in the shower. When helping
his father to undress, Arslan observed a rash across his arms,
torso, and legs. Although Arslan brought grocery bags of food with
him, his father ate very little. The senior Umarov also remains
unresponsive to attempts to speak to him, a condition that has
continued since roughly October 2007. There are presently three
other inmates who share his cell, and Arslan said they are expected
to help out with his basic care and hygiene. Arslan noted that he
will meet with the prison administrator on June 20 to further
discuss his father's condition.
Comment:
--------------
5. (C) The Government of Uzbekistan responded swiftly to the
TASHKENT 00001025 002 OF 002
Ambassador's October 2008 letter, which probably contributed to the
decision to move Sanjar Umarov to a better prison and grant family
members multiple-day visits on a quarterly basis. However,
Arslan's credible account of his recent visit indicates that Sanjar
Umarov is no longer capable of caring for himself in a general
prison environment. The Ambassador is prepared to intervene again,
and we will request that Sanjar Umarov be released on humanitarian
grounds to his family. We will also try to facilitate a visit by
representatives of the ICRC, which has thus far been unable to
visit Umarov in prison.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
DRL FOR RACHEL WALDSTEIN
AMEMBASSY HELSINKI PASS TO AMCONSUL ST PETERSBURG
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL VLADIVOSTOK
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PASS TO AMCONSUL YEKATERINBURG
AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PASS TO AMEMBASSY PODGORICA
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/06/19
TAGS: PHUM PREL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: SANJAR UMAROV'S HEALTH CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE
IN PRISON
CLASSIFIED BY: Timothy P. Buckley, Second Secretary, Department of
State, Political and Economic Section; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)
1. (C) Summary: On June 17, emboffs met with members of the
Sunshine Coalition, who reported that their imprisoned leader,
Sanjar Umarov, was suffering severe mental illness in prison. On
June 18, the Ambassador met with Umarov's son Arslan, who just
finished a four-day visit in the prison with his father and
confirmed that his mental and physical health are deteriorating.
The Ambassador is prepared once again to intervene with the
Government of Uzbekistan to urge more extensive medical care and
Umarov's release on humanitarian grounds. End summary.
Meeting with Sunshine Coalition
--------------
2. (C) On June 17, pol/econ chief and poloffs met with two members
of the Sunshine Coalition, sisters Nigora and Nodira Khidoyatova.
The sisters reiterated their chief human rights complaint - the
continued imprisonment of their group's leader, Umarov, despite his
deteriorating health. They were aware of the findings of the
medical commission that examined Umarov in response to the
Ambassador's letter to President Karimov in October 2008, but
reject that he suffers from depression. "This is a much deeper,
more serious sickness," according to Nodira, who noted they stay in
close touch with relatives.
Meeting with Arslan Umarov
--------------
3. (SBU) On June 18, Ambassador Norland met with Umarov's son
Arslan, a law student in Michigan who recently came from the U.S.
to visit his father in prison during the summer recess. Arslan
reported that his father has been moved to a prison near Gazalkent
(approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Tashkent),and that the
conditions at this new prison are far better than the last,
particularly regarding improved air and water quality. Despite
this positive development, however, he said his father's condition
has worsened substantially since his previous visit last year.
4. (SBU) Arslan observed that his father is even thinner than at
previous visits, noting that he could feel his father's ribs when
he tried to embrace him. He also stated that his father smelled
strongly of urine when he arrived, and indeed urinated on himself
several times during the four-day visit. Although he is able to
walk, he needs physical prodding and assistance to go to the
lavatory, and also needs assistance in the shower. When helping
his father to undress, Arslan observed a rash across his arms,
torso, and legs. Although Arslan brought grocery bags of food with
him, his father ate very little. The senior Umarov also remains
unresponsive to attempts to speak to him, a condition that has
continued since roughly October 2007. There are presently three
other inmates who share his cell, and Arslan said they are expected
to help out with his basic care and hygiene. Arslan noted that he
will meet with the prison administrator on June 20 to further
discuss his father's condition.
Comment:
--------------
5. (C) The Government of Uzbekistan responded swiftly to the
TASHKENT 00001025 002 OF 002
Ambassador's October 2008 letter, which probably contributed to the
decision to move Sanjar Umarov to a better prison and grant family
members multiple-day visits on a quarterly basis. However,
Arslan's credible account of his recent visit indicates that Sanjar
Umarov is no longer capable of caring for himself in a general
prison environment. The Ambassador is prepared to intervene again,
and we will request that Sanjar Umarov be released on humanitarian
grounds to his family. We will also try to facilitate a visit by
representatives of the ICRC, which has thus far been unable to
visit Umarov in prison.
NORLAND