Another Uzbek Opposition Activist Charged With Crimes

Uzbek President Islam Karimov (file photo) (AFP) 20 December 2005 -- Prosecutors in Tashkent announced today that an Uzbek opposition activist has been charged with economic crimes and is under arrest after returning from a trip to Russia.

The Prosecutor General's Office said today that Nodira Khidoyatova was arrested yesterday on charges of embezzlement, concealment of foreign currency, tax evasion, and money laundering.


Khidoyatova is a member of Sunshine Uzbekistan, an opposition coalition that has been a vocal critic of the bloody government crackdown of an uprising in the eastern city of Andijon in May.


In October, Sunshine Uzbekistan Chairman Sanjar Umarov was arrested on embezzlement and tax evasion charges.


Khidoyatova's sister, Nigara, who is coordinator of the coalition, has said the real motive for the two arrests was to stop the coalition's political activities.


Nigara's husband, Arifjan Aidin, died from gunshot wounds earlier this month in Kazakhstan in what she has described as a "political murder."


(AFP)

Aftermath Of Andijon

Aftermath Of Andijon


A dedicated webpage bringing together all of RFE/RL's coverage of the events in Andijon, Uzbekistan, in May 2005 and their continuing repercussions.


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