SURAN 24/92 - Uzbekistan: Pulat Akhunov

Pulat Akhunov, deputy chairman of the opposition Birlik (Unity) movement and former deputy to the USSR Supreme Soviet, was arrested on 29 July 1992 in Shakhrikhan, eastern Uzbekistan and charged with assault. AI does not normally take up cases of persons charged with such offences; however, in this case it is concerned about allegations that the charge has been fabricated in order to punish Pulat Akhunov for his non-violent opposition activities. He is at present reportedly in the investigation-isolation prison in Andizhan. Immediately before this arrest he had served two consecutive 10-day terms of administrative detention. Unofficial sources allege that these offences were also either fabricated or provoked by the authorities.