Kyrgyzstan: Ethnic Uzbek journalist must be released: Ulugbek Abdusalamov
Ulugbek Abdusalamov, an ethnic Uzbek journalist in detention in southern Kyrgyzstan, is at risk of ill-treatment. Amnesty International believes that he is a prisoner of conscience and calls for his immediate and unconditional release.
UA: 144/10 Index: EUR 58/006/2010 Kyrgyzstan Date: 01 July 2010
URGENT ACTION
ETHNIC UZBEK JOURNALIST MUST BE RELEASED
Ulugbek Abdusalamov, an ethnic Uzbek journalist in detention in southern Kyrgyzstan, is at risk
of ill-treatment. Amnesty International believes that he is a prisoner of conscience and calls for
his immediate and unconditional release.
Ulugbek Abdusalamov is a prominent member of the Uzbek community in the Jalal-Abad region in southern
Kyrgyzstan and Chief Editor of the regional Uzbek newspaper Didor (Meeting, in Russian). He has been charged with
‘inciting ethnic hatred’ under Article 299 of the Kyrgyzstani Criminal Code.
The Jalal-Abad prosecutor’s office has stated that the charge of ‘inciting ethnic hatred’ has been brought against
Ulugbek Abdusalamov during an investigation into a violent incident which took place in the A. Batirov University in
Jalal-Abad town on 19 May. However, Ulugbek Abdusalamov was not in Jalal-Abad, but working in the capital,
Bishkek, that day. The authorities have also claimed that two articles published by Ulugbek Abdusalamov in his
newspaper warrant the charge brought against him. Amnesty International has seen both articles and believes that
neither constitutes incitement to ethnic hatred.
Ulugbek Abdusalamov was with a colleague in the region of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan when widespread violence
broke out on 10 June. They both managed to return to the village of Bazar Korgan, in the neighbouring Jalal-Abad
region. Due to the poor security situation in the village, Ulugbek Abdusalamov and his colleague tried to leave on
14 June. Their car was reportedly stopped by uniformed men in a black jeep with no number plates. They said that
they were looking for Ulugbek Abdusalamov and took him away.
Ulugbek Abdusalamov was initially held in a detention centre in the district of Bazar Korgan. On 15 June, he was
moved to the detention centre of the State Security Services in Bazar Korgan and on the same day transferred to a
detention centre in another district. On 16 June, he was transferred to a detention centre in the town of Jalal-Abad
where he is still being held. He has been appointed a state lawyer.
His family were denied access when they tried to visit him although they were told that a food parcel they had
brought would be delivered to him. Local human rights defenders have confirmed that neither they nor his family are
being allowed to visit him in detention. There are also concerns for Ulugbek Abdusalamov’s health as he suffered
from a cerebral haemorrhage in 2009 and has high blood pressure and a heart condition.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Russian, Kyrgyz, English or your own language calling on the interim government to:
Release prisoner of conscience Ulugbek Abdusalamov immediately and unconditionally;
ensure that he has access to a lawyer of his choice, if requested, and that his family are able to visit him;
ensure that Ulugbek Abdusalamov has access to medical care;
allow human rights defenders, journalists and other civil society activists to carry out their work without the threat
of harassment or obstruction by the authorities.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 12 AUGUST 2010 TO:
Minister of Internal Affairs of the
Interim Government
Bolotbek Sherniazov
Frunze Street, 469
Bishkek 720040
KYRGYZSTAN
Fax: +996 312 68 20 44
Email: pressa@mail.mvd.kg
Salutation: Dear Acting Minister
Deputy Head of Interim Government
Azimbek Beknazarov
Dom Pravitelstva
Bishkek 720003
KYRGYZSTAN
Fax: +996 312 21 86 27
Email: admin@kyrgyz-el.kg
Salutation: Dear Deputy Head of
Interim Government
And copies to:
Interim President
Roza Otunbaeva
Dom Pravitelstva
Bishkek 720003
KYRGYZSTAN
Fax: +996 312 21 86 27
Email: admin@kyrgyz-el.kg
Salutation: Dear Interim President
Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country. Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above
date.
Date: 01 July 2010
URGENT ACTION
ETHNIC UZBEK JOURNALIST MUST BE RELEASED
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Ulugbek Abdusalamov is an active member of the Uzbek community and Chief Editor of the regional newspaper Didor which
publishes articles in Uzbek, Kyrgyz and Russian. Ulugbek Abdusalamov is a strong advocate of Uzbek language and culture. He is
associated with Kadirzhan Batirov, a prominent ethnic Uzbek figure and a leader of the political party Rodina (Homeland, in
Russian). Local human rights defenders claim that the authorities are currently targeting Kadyrzhan Batyrov’s close associates in
the Uzbek community, including Ulugbek Abdusalamov, who they have accused of being instrumental in starting the violence in
June.
Ulugbek Abdusalamov also is a member of the Constitutional Commission which was established by the interim government to
draft a new Constitution after former President Kurmanbek Bakiev was overthrown in April following violent confrontations
between government and opposition supporters. He produced translations of the proposed new Constitution in Uzbek, which he
then published in both, Kyrgyz and Uzbek, in his newspaper.
On 19 May, 70 people were injured and three people died during clashes between Kyrgyz and Uzbek crowds at the A. Batirov
University in the town of Jalal-Abad. Kyrgyz demonstrators had gathered in the morning to protest against public speeches made
earlier in the month by Kadirzhan Batirov at meetings with the Uzbek community. Following the demonstration, some made their
way to the university. In the afternoon, some people in the crowd reportedly started throwing stones at the university building at
which point the police reportedly fired shots into the air. The crowd then reportedly broke into the university building and
destroyed some of the property. Gun fire was reportedly heard from inside the building.
The Jalal-Abad Prosecutor’s office alleges that Ulugbek Abdusalamov is one of 54 people who have been connected to this
incident. However, Amnesty International has received credible information that he was in the capital, Bishkek that day.
Reportedly on the same day, the offices of Didor were looted and the newspaper is currently not operational.
The recent violence which has devastated large parts of southern Kyrgyzstan is said to have started on 10 June with clashes
between rival gangs of mostly Kyrgyz and Uzbek youths which rapidly escalated into large-scale arson, looting and violent attacks,
including killings, on mainly Uzbek-populated districts in Osh. Subsequently, the violence spread to the city of Jalal-Abad and
surrounding towns and villages. The south of Kyrgyzstan is home to a large ethnic Uzbek community and was the power base of
the former president.
While the cause of the clashes is unclear, the interim government blamed the violence on supporters of former President
Kurmanbek Bakiev and on organized criminal groups with the intent on destabilizing the situation in the country ahead of a
referendum on a new constitution which took place on 27 June.
An estimated 400,000 people, both Kyrgyz and Uzbeks, fled their homes following the violence in Osh, Jalal-Abad and
surrounding areas which erupted on 10 June. About 100,000, mainly Uzbek women, children and elderly, sought refuge in
neighbouring Uzbekistan but most of them are now reported to have returned to Kyrgyzstan. According to the UN, about 375,000
people remain internally displaced within Kyrgyzstan.
UA: 144/10 Index: EUR 58/006/2010 Issue Date: 1 July 2010