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Uzbekistan cracking down on dissent - rights group

Uzbekistan Materials 22 December 2009 18:12 (UTC +04:00)
Uzbekistan has intensified attacks against rights activists ahead of this week's parliamentary election, a U.S. rights watchdog said.
Uzbekistan cracking down on dissent - rights group

Uzbekistan has intensified attacks against rights activists ahead of this week's parliamentary election, a U.S. rights watchdog said, Reuters reported.

The West cut off ties with Uzbekistan after state troops opened fire on protesters in the eastern city of Andizhan in 2005, killing hundreds of people, according to witnesses.

But relations have warmed this year as Uzbekistan's proximity to Afghanistan made it an important transit point for U.S.-led operations there.

Sunday's election is certain to tighten the rule of President Islam Karimov who has led Central Asia's most populous nation since 1989. Uzbekistan has never held a vote judged to be free and fair by Western observers.

Freedom House said it had received reports of increased harassment in Uzbekistan against rights activists.

"Freedom House is deeply troubled by an intensified crackdown on human rights defenders in Uzbekistan," the Washington-based human rights group said in a statement late on Monday.

"Research indicates that Uzbekistan has not made any credible efforts to reverse its brutal and sustained repression of civil society," it said.

Most Western media have been unable to report from the mainly Muslim nation since their press accreditations were revoked in the crackdown following the 2005 Andizhan protests.

Nevertheless, Washington has stepped up contacts with Tashkent after the country agreed to allow non-military supplies to pass through its territory en route to Afghanistan. The European Union lifted all sanctions on Uzbekistan in October.

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