Translation of Bahadir Namazov’s post.

On July 20, 2009 independent human rights activists held a meeting to discuss the situation around Farhodhon Mukhtarov.

It is already five days Farhodhon Mukhtarov is uder arrest at the Yunusabad district police department of Tashkent (according to our information he has been moved to Tashtyurma).

As we reported earlier, on July 18, 2009 Mukhtarov came with a statement with complaint of illegal actions of police officers, particularly of the investigator Baymatov, to a district prosecutor. But when he arrived to the prosecutor’s office at approximately 15.00 (local time) the prosecutor did not find anything better but to report about it to the police station. As usual, Uzbek police responded immediately, and arrested Mukhtarov directly at the prosecutor’s office. After that he was brought to the Yunus-Abad police station.

Thus, starting from July 18, a small group of independent rights activists is trying to save their friend, colleague and ally.

During the meeting on the initiative of the Committee to Release the Prisoners of Conscience in Uzbekistan it was decided to organize the operational committee to rescue Farhodhon Mukhtarov. Tatyana Dovlatova, who actively participated from the very first day of rights activists arrest, was elected as a Head of the Committee. She will coordinate all the events by the Committee.

HEre is the list of the Committee members: Tatiana Dovlatov, Anatoly Volkov, Victoria Bazhenova, Oleg Sarapulov, Farida Istanbaeva, Ludmila Brosalina, Kim Ada, Ilnur Abdulov and Bahadir Namazov.

Anatoly Volkov, lawyer:

“Farhodhon’s case is not for criminal but economic court. In such cases, the suspects remain free and waiting for a trial. The only thing that matters [for the law-enforcement bodies] is that Mukhtarov is a human rights activist. The fact that he was pre-announced a fraud is illegal and in a contrary to the presumption of innocence. Only a court can make such a decision.”

In order to prevent torture or other unlawful actions by police officers against Farhodhon Mukhtarov, the Committee decided to organize groups of watchers near the police station.

On July 20

Today on duty recovered Tatiana Dovlatov,

Tatiana Dovlatova, who was on duty on July 200, accompanied by Oleg Sarapul, Ilnur Abdulov and Farida Istanbaeva, said:

“Police officers and investigator Boimatov are trying to skip our direct questions. We were able to find out what Farhodhon has been moved to Tashtyurma. His lawyer Manzura Nazarova, [assigned by state,] said that she got the materials on Farkhodhon’s case. They promised to her that the next day they would bring Mukhtarov for interrogation, where the lawyer will be able to meet with him.”

Independent human rights activists decided to keep activities of the Committee of defenders of rights activists for their freedoms and on its basis to establish a committee for the protection and mutual assistance among all civil activists in Uzbekistan in future.

Bahadir Namazov, independent journalist.