Узбекский правозащитник Ганихон Маматханов 25 ноября был приговорен к пяти годам тюремного заключения по обвинению в вымогательстве и взяточничестве. Ганихон Маматханов занимается защитой социальных прав, в особенности прав фермеров на землю, и является одним из последних правозащитников, работающих в Ферганской долине. Он сотрудничает с узбекской службой Радио Свободы.

10 октября 2009 года Ганихон Маматханов был арестован и заключен под стражу по обвинению во взяточничестве и вымогательстве на рынке в Фергане, где, согласно полученным сведениям, неизвестный подбросил ему в карман 500 тысяч сумов (около 330 долларов).

Суд над Ганихоном Маматхановым начался 16 ноября. Из-за отсутствия основного свидетеля, утверждавшего, что Ганихон Маматханов вымогал у него деньги, суд был отложен на 23 ноября 2009 года. 25 ноября районный суд Ферганской области признал Ганихона Маматханова виновным по статьям 168 часть 3 (вымогательство) и 211 часть 3 (взяточничество) УК Узбекистана и приговорил к пяти годам тюремного заключения.

Согласно источникам в Узбекистане, обвинения в адрес Ганихона Маматханова связаны с тем, что он защищал права фермеров в Ферганской долине. В последних числах октября 2009 года президент Узбекистана Каримов опубликовал декрет N3077, целью которого является пропаганда увеличения частных ферм. Текст декрета не был обнародован, и Ганихон Маматханов осудил возможность его применения местными властями, что в реальности означало бы конфискацию и незаконное перераспределение земли мелких фермеров-землевладельцев в пользу крупных землевладельцев.

После того, как Ганихон Маматханов публично раскритиковал декрет, ему угрожал глава местной администрации. 30 октября 2009 года Ганихон Маматханов направил на имя президента Каримова письмо, в котором объяснял, какие негативные социальные последствия для региона будет иметь применение декрета N3077 на практике. В случае, если бы его протест не возымел какого-либо эффекта, Ганихон Маматханов планировал начать голодовку во время празднования Дня конституции Узбекистана, с 8 по 12 декабря.

Обвинения и приговор в адрес Ганихона Маматханова напрямую связаны с его работой в сфере защиты прав человека, в особенности земельных прав, и это является элементом продолжающейся тенденции репрессий в отношении защитников прав мелких земельных собственников в Узбекистане. В июле 2009 года Оязимхон Хидирова, член Международного Общества Прав Человека в Узбекистане, занимавшаяся защитой земельных прав фермеров в Джизакском районе, была арестована по обвинению в "мошенничестве, "уклонении от уплаты налогов" и "хулиганстве". Впоследствии она попала под амнистию 30 августа 2009 года. Только в 2009 году как минимум четверо узбекских правозащитников были приговорены к долгосрочному тюремному заключению по сфабрикованным обвинениям.

--------------------------------------------------------

Uzbek human defender Mr Ganihon Mamathanov was sentenced to five years in prison on charges of extortion and bribery, on 25 November 2009. Ganihon Mamathanov is a defender of social rights, particularly of farmers' land rights, and is one of the last human rights defenders working in the Fergana valley. He collaborates with the Radio Liberty Uzbek Service.



On 10 October 2009, Ganihon Mamathanov was arrested and detained on charges of extortion and bribery at the Fergana market where an unidentified person reportedly planted the sum of 500,000 sums (about $330) in his pocket.

Ganihon Mamathanov's trial began on 16 November. Because of the absence of the main witness who alleged that the human rights defender had extorted money from him, the trial was postponed to 23 November 2009. On 25 November, the district court of Fergana region found Ganihon Mamathanov guilty under Articles 168 part 3 (extortion) and 211 part 3 (bribery) of the Uzbek Criminal Code, and sentenced him to five years in prison.

According to sources in Uzbekistan, the charges against Ganihon Mamathanov were linked to his defence of farmers' rights in Fergana valley. In late October 2009, Uzbek President Karimov published Decree N3077, which aims to promote the enlargement of private farms. The text of the decree was not made public, and Ganihon Mamathanov denounced its application by the local authorities which consisted, in reality, of the confiscation and unlawful redistribution of the land of small-holding farmers to bigger landowners.

After Ganihon Mamathanov publicly criticised the decree, he was threatened by the head of local administration. On 30 October 2009, Ganihon Mamathanov addressed a letter to President Karimov explaining the negative social consequences for the region of the application of Decree N3077 in practice. If he failed to receive any reaction in relation to his protests, Ganihon Mamathanov had planned to go on hunger strike during the celebration of Uzbek Constitution Day, from 8 to 12 December.

Сonviction and sentencing of Ganihon Mamathanov is directly related to his work in the defence of human rights, particularly land rights, and appears to form part of an ongoing trend of repression against the defenders of small landowners' rights in Uzbekistan. In July 2009, Ms Oyazimhon Hidirova, a member of the International Society of Human Rights of Uzbekistan, who works in the defence of farmers' land rights in the Djizak region, was arrested on charges of 'fraud', 'tax evasion' and 'hooliganism', before being granted amnesty on 30 August 2009. In 2009 alone, at least four Uzbek human rights defenders were sentenced to long-term imprisonment under fabricated charges.

On 2 October 2009, in Tashkent, human rights defender, Mr Farhad
Muhtarov, was sentenced to five years in prison on fraud charges. He
had pleaded not guilty to charges of fraudulently borrowing sums of
money. Farhad Muhtarov is an activist with the grassroots movement
Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, which works on a variety of human
rights issues including torture, access to justice, right to a fair
trial, economic and social rights, and the rights of vulnerable groups.
Farhad Muhtarov was arrested on 17 July 2009 at the Yunusabad police
department in Tashkent where he went to complain about unlawful actions
of police officers. His arrest was said to follow suits filed with the
police by three individuals – Shoira Sadybekova, Masuda Karimova and
Anvar Eshanov – claiming that Farhad Muhtarov had borrowed large sums
of money from them. However, Masuda Karimova and Anvar Eshanov later
withdrew their cases, stating that they had been forced to file the
claims under pressure from the police. The police opened a criminal
investigation and pressed charges of fraud based on the third claim by
Shoira Sadybekova, although it reportedly lacked corroboration by
witnesses or by any written evidence signed by Farhad Muhtarov.
Before the district court case began, Farhad Muhtarov's wife, Surayo
Muhtarova, handed over 5 million sums (approx. $2,630) which he had
allegedly owed to Shoira Sadybekova, according to the criminal charges.
However this money was immediately seized by Justice Rohata Bakiyeva in
the state's favour. During the hearing, the Prosecutor sought a
nine-year prison term, but this was lowered to five years in a
general-security prison after Farhad Muhtarov requested the judge to
take into account his wife's deteriorating health and his dependent
children when sentencing.

Colleagues of Farhad Muhtarov believe he may have handed over the
money in order to construe an admission of guilt in the hope of having
his sentence lowered. In addition, sources believe that Farhad Muhtarov
may have been tortured or ill-treated in prison, but decided not to
testify about his treatment in exchange for a more lenient prison
sentence. According to the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, the
defendant and his lawyers intend to appeal against the court ruling.
Front Line believes that the conviction and sentencing of Farhad
Muhtarov is directly related to his work in the defence of human
rights, particularly with the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan.
Front Line is concerned for the physical and psychological integrity of
Farhad Muhtarov.
Front Line urges you to call on the Uzbek authorities to:
1.Immediately and unconditionally release Farhad Muhtarov, as Front
Line believe he is being held solely as a result of his legitimate and
peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2.Ensure that the treatment of Farhad Muhtarov while in detention is
consistent with international standards and that his physical and
psychological security and integrity is guaranteed;
3.Guarantee in all circumstances that human rights defenders in
Uzbekistan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights
activities without fear of reprisals, and free of all restrictions
including judicial harassment.
* five years' imprisonment
* fraud
* ill-treatment
* sentencing
* Uzbekistan