Urganjiy
07-14-2001, 01:12 PM
July 2001
Transcript: U.S. Statement on Uzbekistan to the OSCE Permanent Council
(Johnson expresses concern at reports of torture) (630)
U.S. Ambassador David T. Johnson told Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council July 12 that the United
States is "deeply concerned" by reports that detained persons in
Uzbekistan are being tortured and denied legal rights.
He cited several reports of abuses, including a report that former
parliament member Shovruk Ruzimuradov was tortured and beaten while in
police custody and subsequently died.
Johnson called on the government of Uzbekistan to investigate the
detention and death of Ruzimuradov and the treatment and defense of 73
Uzbek citizens from villages on the Uzbek-Tajik border.
"Incidents such as these present a serious obstacle to the development
of beneficial relations between Uzbekistan and the United States and
the rest of the international community," he said.
Following is a transcript of Johnson's statement:
(begin transcript)
United States Mission to the OSCE
STATEMENT ON UZBEKISTAN
Delivered by Ambassador David T. Johnson to the Permanent Council,
Vienna
July 12, 2001
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States is deeply concerned by reports that Uzbek human
rights activist and former member of Parliament Shovruk Ruzimuradov
recently died in police custody, reportedly after being arrested for
possessing religious party leaflets, drugs, and gun cartridges.
He was denied legal counsel and contact with his family and reportedly
was subjected to torture and beating. We note that, although he was a
practicing Muslim, he was also a member of a secular independent
political party. Human rights advocates claim the evidence used
against him was planted.
If it is determined that Uzbek police planted evidence and engaged in
mistreatment of him while he was in their custody, we ask that the
Government of Uzbekistan hold legally accountable those responsible
for such acts.
Torture of detained persons is a violation, not only of Uzbekistan's
constitution, but also of the universal declaration of human rights,
the United Nations Convention Against Torture, as well as OSCE
principles to which Uzbekistan has pledged its adherence.
We are additionally concerned that 73 Uzbek citizens from villages on
the Uzbek-Tajik border were recently convicted of collaborating with
the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and in that process were
abused, forced to confess, and denied legal counsel from the time of
their arrest last summer until shortly before the trial.
We are troubled by reports that all but one of the defendants
renounced their confessions, which they had given under torture, and
by reports that no evidence was introduced to support the guilt of any
of the defendants. Indeed, one of the detainees died in police
custody, reportedly from mistreatment.
We are troubled that authorities have declined to investigate these
claims of torture and request that they do so.
We would like to note that all evidence available to us tends to
support the conclusion that, far from being in league with the IMU,
these villagers acted responsibly during the incursions last summer
and remain loyal to the government of President Karimov.
We would like to reiterate our assessment that repressive measures of
the Uzbek Government against its own citizens do not create conditions
that are conducive to fighting terrorism. These recent events
highlight the weaknesses inherent in Uzbekistan's system of justice,
and do not allay fears by the international community that the cases
against the defendants were political rather than criminal in nature.
Incidents such as these present a serious obstacle to the development
of beneficial relations between Uzbekistan and the United States and
the rest of the international community.
We therefore call upon the Government of Uzbekistan to undertake a
full, fair and impartial investigation into the detention and death of
Mr. Ruzimuradov and the treatment and defense of the recently
convicted 73 villagers.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(
Transcript: U.S. Statement on Uzbekistan to the OSCE Permanent Council
(Johnson expresses concern at reports of torture) (630)
U.S. Ambassador David T. Johnson told Organization for Security and
Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Permanent Council July 12 that the United
States is "deeply concerned" by reports that detained persons in
Uzbekistan are being tortured and denied legal rights.
He cited several reports of abuses, including a report that former
parliament member Shovruk Ruzimuradov was tortured and beaten while in
police custody and subsequently died.
Johnson called on the government of Uzbekistan to investigate the
detention and death of Ruzimuradov and the treatment and defense of 73
Uzbek citizens from villages on the Uzbek-Tajik border.
"Incidents such as these present a serious obstacle to the development
of beneficial relations between Uzbekistan and the United States and
the rest of the international community," he said.
Following is a transcript of Johnson's statement:
(begin transcript)
United States Mission to the OSCE
STATEMENT ON UZBEKISTAN
Delivered by Ambassador David T. Johnson to the Permanent Council,
Vienna
July 12, 2001
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The United States is deeply concerned by reports that Uzbek human
rights activist and former member of Parliament Shovruk Ruzimuradov
recently died in police custody, reportedly after being arrested for
possessing religious party leaflets, drugs, and gun cartridges.
He was denied legal counsel and contact with his family and reportedly
was subjected to torture and beating. We note that, although he was a
practicing Muslim, he was also a member of a secular independent
political party. Human rights advocates claim the evidence used
against him was planted.
If it is determined that Uzbek police planted evidence and engaged in
mistreatment of him while he was in their custody, we ask that the
Government of Uzbekistan hold legally accountable those responsible
for such acts.
Torture of detained persons is a violation, not only of Uzbekistan's
constitution, but also of the universal declaration of human rights,
the United Nations Convention Against Torture, as well as OSCE
principles to which Uzbekistan has pledged its adherence.
We are additionally concerned that 73 Uzbek citizens from villages on
the Uzbek-Tajik border were recently convicted of collaborating with
the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and in that process were
abused, forced to confess, and denied legal counsel from the time of
their arrest last summer until shortly before the trial.
We are troubled by reports that all but one of the defendants
renounced their confessions, which they had given under torture, and
by reports that no evidence was introduced to support the guilt of any
of the defendants. Indeed, one of the detainees died in police
custody, reportedly from mistreatment.
We are troubled that authorities have declined to investigate these
claims of torture and request that they do so.
We would like to note that all evidence available to us tends to
support the conclusion that, far from being in league with the IMU,
these villagers acted responsibly during the incursions last summer
and remain loyal to the government of President Karimov.
We would like to reiterate our assessment that repressive measures of
the Uzbek Government against its own citizens do not create conditions
that are conducive to fighting terrorism. These recent events
highlight the weaknesses inherent in Uzbekistan's system of justice,
and do not allay fears by the international community that the cases
against the defendants were political rather than criminal in nature.
Incidents such as these present a serious obstacle to the development
of beneficial relations between Uzbekistan and the United States and
the rest of the international community.
We therefore call upon the Government of Uzbekistan to undertake a
full, fair and impartial investigation into the detention and death of
Mr. Ruzimuradov and the treatment and defense of the recently
convicted 73 villagers.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(