Mr Rukhiddin Kamilov

On 28 February 2012, the Tashkent Regional Commission, decided that it would continue to exclude Mr Rukhiddin Kamilov from the bar, on its review of the qualifications of lawyers.

Rukhiddin Kamilov is a lawyer who was active in defending civil and human rights activists.Rukhiddin Kamilov was first disbarred in May 2009 together with other Uzbek lawyers who were active in the defence of civil activists and human rights defenders. Among Rukhiddin Kamilov's clients were Elena Urlaeva of Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, Saidjahon Zainabitdinov of the Andijan human rights group, Mutabar Tadjibaeva of the human rights organisation the Fiery Hearts Club, and human rights defender and journalist Dilmurod Sayid. Rukhiddin Kamilov has openly denounced threats against and blackmailing of his clients as well as the use of torture against them.

The disbarment of lawyers and further refusals to issue new lawyer's licences is being used as a means of controlling and restricting the legal profession by the judiciary in Uzbekistan and often results in the victims of human rights violations and unfair trials being left with no independent legal representation. This situation is especially worrying because judicial harassment remains one of the most efficient methods used against human rights activists in order to silence their dissenting voices.

Front Line Defenders believes that the refusal by the Tashkent Regional Commission to grant a licence to practice to Rukhiddin Kamilov is directly linked to his legitimate work in defence of human rights and in particular his provision of legal representation to human rights defenders in Uzbekistan.