Uzbekistan

Son Of Uzbek Rights Activist Reportedly Detained

Uzbek soldiers on the streets of Andijon on May 14, 2005, a day after the bloodshed (file photo) (epa) PRAGUE, May 26, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Police in Uzbekistan have reportedly detained the son of a jailed human rights activist.

Ilhom Zaynobiddinov's mother told RFE/RL that police had detained her son on May 22. She said she did not know what charges he may face.


An independent news website, ferghana.ru, said Zaynobiddinov was detained for establishing contacts with his father's fellow activists and carrying on his father's work.


His father, Saidjahon Zaynobiddinov, headed the local human rights organization Apelatsiya (Appeal). He was jailed after reporting on the violent crackdown on protesters in the city of Andijon one year ago.

Andijon Anniversary Conference

Andijon Anniversary Conference

Violence in Andijon, Uzbekistan, on May 14, 2005 (epa)

TALKING ABOUT ANDIJON: On May 9, 2006, RFE/RL, the National Endowment for Democracy, and U.S.-based human rights organizations cohosted a conference on the May 2005 events in Andijon and their aftermath in Uzbekistan and throughout the region. The first panel featured Andijon eyewitness GALIMA BUKHARBAEVA, National Endowment for Democracy Fellow NOZIMA KAMALOVA, RFE/RL Central Asia analyst DANIEL KIMMAGE, and others. The second panel featured presentations by U.S. Senator JOHN MCCAIN and U.S. Congressman CHRISTOPHER SMITH, who used the forum to announce they had introduced legislation calling for sanctions and other measures against the government of President Islam Karimov.


LISTEN

Listen to the Andijon conference.
Part One (70 minutes):
Real Audio Windows Media
Part Two (60 minutes):
Real Audio Windows Media
The Uzbek government's response:
Real Audio Windows Media


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


CHRONOLOGY

For an annotated timeline of the Andijon events and their repercussions, click here.