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DemocracyAlerts

From time to time, the World Movement for Democracy issues alerts concerning participants and other colleagues who are, or may be, facing personal danger due to their work on behalf of democracy and for whom a vigorous response from around the world may be critical.

To see previous alerts go to www.wmd.org/democracyalerts/democracyAlerts.html.

(June 13, 2007)

Democracy Alert: Members of Kyrgyz Human Rights Group Prosecuted

On June 15, 2007, the trial of Valentina Gritzenko, Abdumalik Sharipov, and Makhamadzhan Abdujaparoc, members of the human rights organization, "Justice" (Spravedlivost), will resume in Jalalabat, Kyrgyzstan. The human rights activists were accused of libel and insult, acts that are considered criminal under Kyrgyz law. In January 2006, a pregnant woman, Nargiz Turdyeva, contacted the human rights organization for help after being subjected to cruel treatment by a local police investigator. During a routine investigation about a local theft, Ms. Turdyeva was humiliated, insulted, and beaten. "Justice" tried to have the torture allegations investigated, and published the information it had about the case in its bulletin. However, its appeals to examine the police investigator's actions were dismissed. Instead, the investigator initiated a criminal case against Valentina Gritzenko, Abdumalik Sharipov, and Makhamadzhan Abdujaparoc in March 2006. The trial was originally held on June 20, 2006, but was suspended after two days due to the illness of Ms. Turdyeva.

The Youth Human Rights Group in Kyrgyzstan is asking that letters of concern be faxed to the officials indicated below. Letters should request that the defendants receive a fair trial, and that the justice system not be misused to punish human rights defenders for carrying out their important work of reporting on torture.

Send letters of appeal to:

Prosecutor of the Jalalabat oblast, Kyrgyz Republic,
Mr. Baktybaev Ryskul Gylamidinovich,
Fax Number: 996 3722 50119

Ombudsman of the Kyrgyz Republic,
Mr. Tursunbai Bakir Uulu,
Fax Number: 996 312 650807

Or, send letters to the Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic in your country