On November 30, 2005, on the eve of the Presidential Decree on Amnesty for Prisoners, the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan “Ezgulik” appealed to the President of Uzbekistan, Karimov, asking him to apply the Decree to human rights activists and members of the political opposition who are at present either under investigation or serving out their sentence in prison. Local human rights defenders, who did everything possible to reveal the truth about the tragic events in May of 2005 when Uzbek government forces opened fire on a large crowd of unarmed demonstrators in Andijan city-center protesting against injustice and poverty, have been a target of government harassment. Criminal cases against many of them were opened following the events. The appeal below (in English and in Russian) is on the behalf of these activists.
 

According to the Constitution of Uzbekistan, the right to grant an amnesty lies solely with the Head of State and it has become tradition that the President issue annual decrees on amnesty. It is expected that this year’s decree will be issued on 8 December, in honor of Uzbek Constitution Day.

Therefore, the Ezgulik Human-Rights Society would like to turn the attention of President Karimov and the leadership of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the series of criminal charges against human-rights activists and members of the nation’s democratic opposition. It should be noted that the majority of these cases were based on statutes relating to crimes against the state. It is well known that the criminal prosecution of human-rights activists and members of the democratic opposition increased dramatically following the events in Andijan in May of 2005.

Dear Mr. President,

From the highest lecterns, we have repeatedly declared that Uzbekistan is creating a democratic state based on the rule of law. According to international standards, the term democracy signifies that each citizen’s voice will be heard, while the rule of law demands that legislation be the most important standard for human behavior. In other words, if a citizen acts within his rights, as determined by the legal code, he can be sure that the state will not and cannot threaten him for those actions.

Despite the negative image of human-rights activists or the political opposition that has arisen among the organs of the State, they are often true patriots of Uzbekistan and sincerely desire the best for her present and future when they point out the very real lapses and problems in our lives.

Mr. President, on the eve of your decree on amnesty, the Ezgulik Human-Rights Society begs you to show tolerance, openness and mercy, and to consider the possibility of applying the decree to human-rights activists and members of the political opposition, who are at present either under investigation or already serving out their sentences in prison.

Below is a list of human-rights activists and members of the democratic opposition.

Vasila Inoyatova,