Otanazar Aripov, a professor of physics and secretary of the central committee of the outlawed opposition party Erk, is serving a five-year prison sentence. AI has adopted him as a prisoner of conscience. He is asthmatic and AI is concerned by reports that he has been sent to a strict regime corrective labour colony in central Uzbekistan. Prisoners there reportedly work in a chemicals factory. AI fears that such work may be detrimental to his health in view of his asthma.
