URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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11 May 2005
UA 118/05 Fear of imminent execution/torture/ill-treatment
UZBEKISTAN
Nazirzhan Azizov (m), born 1972
Khurshidbek Salaidinov (m), born 1984
Bakhtiorzhan Tuichiev (m), born 1974
The three young men named above are believed to be in
imminent danger of execution. They were reportedly tortured
to force them to confess to murder, and sentenced to death
in October 2004. Mass appeals now could save their lives.
The three men are on death row in Andizhan prison, in the
far east of Uzbekistan. Their parents have not been allowed
to visit them since January. When families are denied
meetings with death row prisoners it often indicates that the
execution has taken place already, or is about to take place.
They were convicted of two murders by Andizhan Regional
Court, in a trial that reportedly fell far short of international
standards: all three alleged in court that they had been
tortured to make them sign confessions to the murders, but
the court failed to investigate their claims. All three men's
appeals against their death sentences were rejected by the
same court in December and again in February.
The families of Bakhtiorzhan Tuichiev and Khurshidbek
Salaidinov claimed that they had been beaten so badly in
custody that they were unable to move for several weeks.
They were not allowed to meet with lawyers hired by their
families, and were only able to meet with a state-appointed
lawyer after they had been in custody for a month.
In January the UN Human Rights Committee urged the
Uzbek authorities to stay the executions of the three men,
while it establishes whether provisions of the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) were violated
in their cases. However, on 21 March the Uzbek authorities
gave a written assurance to the UN Human Rights
Committee that another death row prisoner, Akhrorkhuzha
Tolipkhuzhaev was still alive. It later emerged that he had
been executed on 1 March. Akhrorkhuzha Tolipkhuzhaev,
had not been the subject of mass appeals, such as those from
the UA network, and this appears to have been a key factor in
his execution.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Uzbekistan has ratified the first Optional Protocol to the
ICCPR, and has therefore committed itself to follow the
recommendations of the UN Human Rights Committee,
including requests for stays of execution. However, by May
2005, the authorities had executed at least 15 death row
prisoners on whose behalf the UN Human Rights Committee
had intervened.
President Islam Karimov stated on 2 December 2004 that
between 50 and 60 people had been sentenced to death that
year. However, in violation of Uzbekistan's international
obligations, the country has never published comprehensive
statistics on the numbers of death sentences and executions.
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to
arrive as quickly as possible:
- urging the authorities to abide by the UN Human Rights
Committee's request to stay the executions of Nazirzhan
Azizov, Khurshidbek Salaidinov and Bakhtiorzhan Tuichiev
while their cases are being considered, and thereby honour
Uzbekistan's obligation as a party to the Optional Protocol to
the ICCPR;
- urging the President to commute the death sentences passed
on Nazirzhan Azizov, Khurshidbek Salaidinov and
Bakhtiorzhan Tuichiev, and all other death sentences that
come before him;
- calling on the authorities to investigate thoroughly and
impartially allegations that Khurshidbek Salaidinov and
Bakhtiorzhan Tuichiev were tortured and ill-treated in pre-
trial detention, and bring to justice anyone found responsible;
- expressing your unconditional opposition to the death
penalty as a violation of the most fundamental of human
rights, the right to life, and calling on the authorities to
promptly introduce a moratorium on death sentences and
executions.
APPEALS TO:
President:
Islam A. KARIMOV
Rezidentsia prezidenta
ul. Uzbekistanskaia, 43
Tashkent 700163
UZBEKISTAN
Fax: 011 998 71 139 15 17 (via Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Please mark: "for the attention of President
Karimov")
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear President Karimov
Minister of Internal Affairs:
Zakirzhan ALMATOV
Ministerstvo vnutrennikh del RU, ul. Novruz, 1
Tashkent 700029
UZBEKISTAN
Fax: 011 998 71 133 89 34
Salutation: Dear Minister Almatov
Head of the National Center for Human Rights:
Akmal Saidov
Natsionalny tsentr po pravam cheloveka
5/3, Mustakillik Maidoni
g. Tashkent
Respublika Uzbekistan
700029
Fax: 011 998 71 139 13 56;
011 998 71 139 45 16
E-mail: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Senator Saidov
COPIES TO:
Minister of Foreign Affairs:
Eler GANIEV
Ministerstvo inostrannykh del RU
pl. Mustakillik, 5
Tashkent 700029
UZBEKISTAN
Fax: 011 998 71 139 15 17
Email: [email protected]
Ambassador Abdoulaziz Kamilov
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
1746 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington DC 20036-1903
Fax: 1 202 293 6804
Please send appeals immediately. Check with the
Colorado office between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm, Mountain
Time, weekdays only, if sending appeals after 22 June 2005.
Amnesty International is a worldwide grassroots movement that
promotes and defends human rights.
This Urgent Action may be reposted if kept intact, including
contact information and stop action date (if applicable). Thank
you for your help with this appeal.
Urgent Action Network
Amnesty International USA
PO Box 1270
Nederland CO 80466-1270
Email: [email protected]
http://www.amnestyusa.org/urgent/
Phone: 303 258 1170
Fax: 303 258 7881
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END OF URGENT ACTION APPEAL
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