Authorities prevent HRDs from participating in commemorative event
On 13 May 2008, Uzbek authorities prevented the below-mentioned human rights defenders of the Human Rights Defenders Alliance of Uzbekistan from participating in a commemorative event, to mark the third anniversary of the Andijan massacre: Rasulzhon Tadjibaev, Shurat Ahmadzhonov, Elena Urlaeva and Saidagzam Askarov were arrested. Lyudmila Mingazova, Karima Kamalova, Akramhodzha Muhitidinov, Shadmanbek Fazilov and Tatyana Dovlatova were reportedly forced to stay in their homes by law enforcement officials. Zhanna Ignatenko and Alisher Mamadzhanov were prevented from laying flowers at the "Monument of Courage" by the Intelligence Service. In addition, an attempt was made by officials of the Intelligence Service to detain Anatoli Volkov and Victoria Bazhenova at the "Monument of Courage."
Elena Urlaeva is the Head of the Human Rights Defenders Alliance of Uzbekistan and organises public demonstrations for the right to freedom of association and assembly. She also communicates with victims of human rights violations on an individual basis, partly due to the lack of human rights organisations in the region. Recently, Elena Urlaeva has been monitoring cases of the subjection of Uzbek civil servants and students to forced labour. The evidence gathered by her and her colleagues, at the Human Rights Defenders Alliance of Uzbekistan reveal a widespread and systematic state policy of forcing citizens to weed cotton fields in several regions of Uzbekistan.
On 13 May 2008, Uzbek authorities prevented the below-mentioned human rights defenders of the Human Rights Defenders Alliance of Uzbekistan from participating in a commemorative event, to mark the third anniversary of the Andijan massacre: Rasulzhon Tadjibaev, Shurat Ahmadzhonov, Elena Urlaeva and Saidagzam Askarov were arrested. Lyudmila Mingazova, Karima Kamalova, Akramhodzha Muhitidinov, Shadmanbek Fazilov and Tatyana Dovlatova were reportedly forced to stay in their homes by law enforcement officials. Zhanna Ignatenko and Alisher Mamadzhanov were prevented from laying flowers at the "Monument of Courage" by the Intelligence Service. In addition, an attempt was made by officials of the Intelligence Service to detain Anatoli Volkov and Victoria Bazhenova at the "Monument of Courage."
On the morning of 13 May 2008 Elena Urlaeva was taken into custody by an official of the Intelligence Service and a traffic policeman. She was transported to the local police station, where Umar Shonazorov, a member of the police force, confiscated her mobile phone. At 16:30 she was taken by a convoy to her home and put under house arrest until 18:00, after which time her phone was returned to her by Umar Shonazarov.
A number of human rights defenders were able to secretly leave their apartments early in the morning and go the “Monument of Courage,” but as they walked toward the monument they were arrested by members of the police. The police reportedly arrested Saidagzam Askarov and took him to the local police station Sabir-Rahimovsk, where they forced him to write a statement denying his human rights activities and stating that he will no longer participate in non-government sanctioned protests. After he signed the statement, he was released.
Members of the police also reportedly arrested Rasulzhon Tadjibaev and took him to the local police station Yunusabadsk, where his fingerprints were taken and they threatened to take him to the Ferghana Valley if he continues to engage in human rights activities. Policemen demanded that he sign a statement denying any human rights activities and that he will no longer participate in non-government sanctioned protests.
Shurat Ahmadzhonov was also arrested by the police and taken to the local police station Hamzinsk.
Human rights defender Zhanna Ignatenko reportedly arrived at the "Monument of Courage" to lay flowers in memory of the victims of Andijan and the shooting of her own son at the Israeli Embassy in Tashkent on the same day. Members of the police would not allow her to approach the monument and rudely directed her to vacate the area. Alisher Mamadzhanov had a similar experience.
The Intelligence Service reportedly surrounded the “Monument of Courage,” but human rights defender Victoria Bazhenova and Anatoli Volkov were able to lay flowers at it as foreign tourists were watching. When Victoria Bazhenova photographed Anatoli Volkov, five members of the Intelligence Service descended and tried to put him in the car. Victoria Bazhenova asked for help from the group of foreign tourists and only due to their help were they not arrested.
Human rights defender Tatyana Dovlatova was reportedly informed early in the morning by the Intelligence Service that she should stay at home on the 13 May 2008 and not call anyone, and that if she did not do as told, there would be a harsh physical punishment for her children.
Lyudmila Mingazova, Karima Kamalova, Akramhodzha Muhitidinov, Shadmanbek Fazilov were also blocked from leaving their homes.
