Human Rights Advocacy
One year on, Andizhan victims deserve justice
On 13 May 2005 Uzbekistani security forces fired indiscriminately on demonstrators, who had gathered in the city of Andizhan in eastern Uzbekistan to complain about repressive government policies and widespread poverty, killing hundreds, mostly unarmed civilians.
Hundreds fled to neighbouring Kyrgyzstan in search of refuge. Hundreds suspected of involvement in the events were detained, and many were allegedly tortured or otherwise ill-treated. Dozens were tried and sentenced in unfair trials. One year on, the authorities in Uzbekistan have continued to reject calls of the UN, the European Union and other members of the international community for an impartial, independent and thorough international investigation. They have refused to take effective measures to investigate the violations by the security forces and to bring to justice those responsible.
Instead, the authorities have imprisoned human rights activists and gagged the independent media in an attempt to bury the truth about the Andizhan killings. They have tried to conceal the fact that repressive practices such as arbitrary detention, torture and ill-treatment, unfair trials, and lack of freedom of expression and association that led to the Andizhan protests - continue unabated.
Several prominent human rights defenders, including Mutabar Tadzhibaeva, Saidzhakhon Zainabitdinov and Dilmurod Muhiddinov, have been sentenced to long prison terms after trials that fell far short of international fair trial standards. These prisoners of conscience detained solely for trying to tell the truth about Andizhan should be released immediately.
Respect for universal human rights is the only way to properly underpin our security. Fair trials and an absolute ban on torture are among the most potent weapons in the fight against terrorism.
Source: Amnesty International.
