HUMAN RIGHTS “Until the Very End” Politically Motivated Imprisonment in Uzbekistan WATCH “Until the Very End” Politically Motivated Imprisonment in Uzbekistan Copyright © 2014 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-62313-1951 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org SEPTEMBER 2014 ISBN: 978-1-62313-1951 “Until the Very End” Politically Motivated Imprisonment in Uzbekistan Map of Prisons in Uzbekistan ........................................................................................................ i Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 1 Key Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 9 To the Government of Uzbekistan ............................................................................................ 9 To the European Union, the United States, the United Nations Human Rights Council, and Other International Partners of Uzbekistan ....................................................................... 10 Methodology .................................................................................................................................. 12 I. Politically Motivated Imprisonment in Context: 25 Years of Repression ...................... 14 Dismantling the Political Opposition (1992-1997) .................................................................... 14 Persecution of Independent Muslims (1997-present) ............................................................... 16 Andijan and its Aftermath ....................................................................................................... 17 Searching for New Enemies ..................................................................................................... 18 How Many People Are Imprisoned on Politically Motivated Charges? ....................................... 19 II. Profiles of Individuals Imprisoned on Politically Motivated Charges ........................... 22 Human Rights Activists ........................................................................................................... 22 International Standards on the Protection of Human Rights Defenders .................................... 23 Azam Farmonov ................................................................................................................ 25 Mehriniso and Zulhumor Hamdamova .............................................................................. 27 Isroiljon Kholdorov ......................................................................................................... 29 Nosim Isakov ................................................................................................................... 31 Gaybullo Jalilov ................................................................................................................ 32 Matluba Kamilova ............................................................................................................ 34 Ganikhon Mamatkhanov .................................................................................................. 35 Chuyan Mamatkulov ......................................................................................................... 37 Zafarjon Rahimov ............................................................................................................. 39 Yuldash Rasulov ............................................................................................................... 39 Bobomurod Razzokov ..................................................................................................... 40 Fahriddin Tillaev ............................................................................................................... 42 Nuriddin Jumaniyazov ...................................................................................................... 42 Akzam Turgunov ............................................................................................................... 43 Journalists .............................................................................................................................. 45 Uzbekistan’s International Obligations on Freedom of Expression .......................................... 46 Solijon Abdurakhmanov ................................................................................................... 47 Muhammad Bekjanov and Yusuf Ruzimuradov ................................................................. 51 Gayrat Mikhliboev ............................................................................................................ 53 Dilmurod Saidov .............................................................................................................. 55 Political Opposition Activists .................................................................................................. 57 Murod Juraev .................................................................................................................... 58 Samandar Kukanov ......................................................................................................... 60 Kudratbek Rasulov ........................................................................................................... 61 Rustam Usmanov ............................................................................................................. 63 Independent Religious Figures ................................................................................................ 65 Uzbekistan’s International Obligations to Ensure Freedom of Religion .................................... 66 Ruhiddin Fahriddinov ....................................................................................................... 67 Hayrullo Hamidov ............................................................................................................. 70 Akram Yuldashev ............................................................................................................. 72 Andijan and Other “Internal Enemies” .................................................................................... 76 Dilorom Abdukodirova ..................................................................................................... 77 Botirbek Eshkuziev, Bahrom Ibragimov, Davron Kabilov, Davron Tojiev, and Ravshanbek Vafoev ............................................................................................................................. 79 Erkin Musaev ................................................................................................................... 81 III. Prison Abuses and the Arbitrary Extension of Sentences ............................................. 85 Due Process Violations .......................................................................................................... 86 Denial of Access to Counsel ............................................................................................. 86 Incommunicado Detention .............................................................................................. 88 Torture .................................................................................................................................. 88 Torture in Pretrial Detention ............................................................................................. 89 Torture Following Conviction ............................................................................................ 91 Solitary Confinement ............................................................................................................. 92 Health Problems and Inadequate Medical Treatment.............................................................. 94 Denying Early Release, Prolonging Prison Time ....................................................................... 98 Arbitrary Denial of Amnesty ............................................................................................. 98 Sentence Extensions for “Violations of Prison Rules” ...................................................... 100 Lack of Adequate Monitoring and Complaint Mechanisms .............................................. 103 IV. International Responses to Uzbekistan’s Policy of Politically Motivated Imprisonment .........................................................................................................................................................105 United Nations ..................................................................................................................... 106 European Union ...................................................................................................................