Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TASHKENT647
2009-05-06 10:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: SIX MORE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS CONVICTIONS
how-toVZCZCXRO7480 RR RUEHDBU RUEHIK RUEHLN RUEHPOD RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHNT #0647 1261018 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 061019Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0840 INFO CIS COLLECTIVE NATO EU COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIP UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: SIX MORE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS CONVICTIONS
REPORTED
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000647
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIP UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: SIX MORE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS CONVICTIONS
REPORTED
1. (U) Summary: Convictions of six more trafficking offenders were
reported in separate articles in the state-controlled press on
April 30 - May 1, the latest examples of Uzbekistan's aggressive
enforcement of its 2008 law and criminal code amendments. The
Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported substantially higher
convictions during the most recent reporting period for the annual
TIP Report, and these articles demonstrate that there is indeed a
concerted effort around the country to punish TIP offenders. Press
reports on TIP-related issues continue to appear on an almost daily
basis.
2. (U) on May 1, Tashkent Adolat newspaper published a report from
Mirza Qahhorov, Deputy Prosecutor of the Chilonzor district of
Tashkent City, entitled "None of Those Who Led People to Slavery
Will Escape Punishment." It first described general worldwide
statistics and noted that nearly 2,000 Uzbeks were trafficking
victims in 2008. The article then reported that on January 20, a
Qayum Ortiqov was convicted under Article 135, part 2, paragraph b,
d, e, i, and j of the criminal code. The male offender had two
female accomplices, Yekaterina Inozemtsova and her daughter, Lina
Inozemtsova, who were the Director and Deputy Director,
respectively, of a private company called Vesta Lemax.
3. (U) Ortiqov "took a large amount of money from more than 10
citizens" and promised that he and his partners would arrange jobs
at a tile factory in the Krasnodar region of Russia. Instead, the
"misled citizens were coldly received by the offenders' fellows" in
Krasnodar, had their passports confiscated, and then put to work at
a brick factory in a remote village. They were subjected,
according to Qahhorov's article, to "awful living conditions" and
forced to work 12-14 hours per day. They eventually returned home
after three months, having received no salaries, and complained to
authorities. "The court then administered relevant punishments to
the offenders," although it does not specify any prison term (Note:
The minimum according to the new law and criminal code amendments
is three years imprisonment. End note.)
4. (U) On April 30, the Namangan Diyonat provincial newspaper
reported that Zohid Rahmonov was convicted of trafficking in
persons and sentenced to seven years in prison. The resident of
Pop District was found guilty of leading nine fellow Uzbeks to
Russia's Ryazan Region after promising them high-paying jobs.
Rahmonov subsequently "turned the group over to a Russian man," who
forced them to work without payment for several months.
5. (U) Also on April 30, the newspaper Huquq reported that a
resident of Karakalpakstan Province, N. Baximbetov, was convicted
for trafficking 13 Uzbeks into Kazakhstan, "where they were forced
to do hard jobs."
Comment
--------------
6. (U) Each of these three cases involved trafficking for labor
exploitation in which multiple Uzbeks were taken abroad under false
pretenses. It may seem obvious that the victims would file
criminal complaints upon their return, but until recently offenders
may have assumed they could pull off the crime with relative
impunity. More Uzbeks are aware that this exploitation is
criminalized and victims are more assertive about turning to
authorities. The stories also reflect the large scale of outbound
labor migration, is another important reason why the Government of
Uzbekistan decided to take TIP so seriously in recent times.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KTIP UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: SIX MORE TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS CONVICTIONS
REPORTED
1. (U) Summary: Convictions of six more trafficking offenders were
reported in separate articles in the state-controlled press on
April 30 - May 1, the latest examples of Uzbekistan's aggressive
enforcement of its 2008 law and criminal code amendments. The
Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported substantially higher
convictions during the most recent reporting period for the annual
TIP Report, and these articles demonstrate that there is indeed a
concerted effort around the country to punish TIP offenders. Press
reports on TIP-related issues continue to appear on an almost daily
basis.
2. (U) on May 1, Tashkent Adolat newspaper published a report from
Mirza Qahhorov, Deputy Prosecutor of the Chilonzor district of
Tashkent City, entitled "None of Those Who Led People to Slavery
Will Escape Punishment." It first described general worldwide
statistics and noted that nearly 2,000 Uzbeks were trafficking
victims in 2008. The article then reported that on January 20, a
Qayum Ortiqov was convicted under Article 135, part 2, paragraph b,
d, e, i, and j of the criminal code. The male offender had two
female accomplices, Yekaterina Inozemtsova and her daughter, Lina
Inozemtsova, who were the Director and Deputy Director,
respectively, of a private company called Vesta Lemax.
3. (U) Ortiqov "took a large amount of money from more than 10
citizens" and promised that he and his partners would arrange jobs
at a tile factory in the Krasnodar region of Russia. Instead, the
"misled citizens were coldly received by the offenders' fellows" in
Krasnodar, had their passports confiscated, and then put to work at
a brick factory in a remote village. They were subjected,
according to Qahhorov's article, to "awful living conditions" and
forced to work 12-14 hours per day. They eventually returned home
after three months, having received no salaries, and complained to
authorities. "The court then administered relevant punishments to
the offenders," although it does not specify any prison term (Note:
The minimum according to the new law and criminal code amendments
is three years imprisonment. End note.)
4. (U) On April 30, the Namangan Diyonat provincial newspaper
reported that Zohid Rahmonov was convicted of trafficking in
persons and sentenced to seven years in prison. The resident of
Pop District was found guilty of leading nine fellow Uzbeks to
Russia's Ryazan Region after promising them high-paying jobs.
Rahmonov subsequently "turned the group over to a Russian man," who
forced them to work without payment for several months.
5. (U) Also on April 30, the newspaper Huquq reported that a
resident of Karakalpakstan Province, N. Baximbetov, was convicted
for trafficking 13 Uzbeks into Kazakhstan, "where they were forced
to do hard jobs."
Comment
--------------
6. (U) Each of these three cases involved trafficking for labor
exploitation in which multiple Uzbeks were taken abroad under false
pretenses. It may seem obvious that the victims would file
criminal complaints upon their return, but until recently offenders
may have assumed they could pull off the crime with relative
impunity. More Uzbeks are aware that this exploitation is
criminalized and victims are more assertive about turning to
authorities. The stories also reflect the large scale of outbound
labor migration, is another important reason why the Government of
Uzbekistan decided to take TIP so seriously in recent times.
NORLAND