(RFE/RL)
May 23, 2006 -- Reports from Uzbekistan say two human rights activists may soon be brought before court on extortion charges
A spokesman for the Interior Ministry said today investigators had concluded that Azamjon Farmonov and Alisher Karamatov attempted to blackmail a resident of Jizzakh, in central Uzbekistan. He said the probe was now over and that their case was being transferred to court.
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Farmonov and Karamatov work for the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU). They were arrested on April 29, soon after they had published a report on the abuse of farmers' rights in Jizzakh region.
The HRSU denies the accusations brought against its two members, saying they are politically motivated.
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
RFE/RL Central Asia Report
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