Uzbek rights activist released early from jail
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 13 April 2012 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Uzbek rights activist released early from jail, 13 April 2012, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f9e7c4c47.html [accessed 18 May 2013] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
April 13, 2012
TASHKENT – Uzbekistan has released rights activist Alisher Karomatov from jail after he served six years of a nine-year sentence.
Karomatov, head of the Syr Darya region branch of the Uzbek Human Rights Society, was jailed in 2006 on charges of extortion after he reported on corruption in the government.
An associate, Azam Farmanov, who was sentenced at the same time, remains in prison.
Relatives of Karomatov say he has suffered from tuberculosis in recent years and is in poor health.
The Uzbek government has given no explanation for his early release.
Other Uzbek human rights activists had raised the issue of Karomatov's case in the UN Human Rights Council and it was expected to be discussed at a session of the council in Geneva later this month.
Speaking to RFE/RL, Karomatov thanked the local and international rights groups who called for his release.
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
