A court in Uzbekistan's Namangan region has sentenced the former bodyguard and personal driver of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) leader Juma Namangani to 18 years in prison.
Abdumumin Dadakhonov, who the Uzbek security service says was involved with extremist religious groups for more than 10 years, was arrested in Ukraine last year and extradited to Uzbekistan.
The Uzbek security service says Dadakhonov began recruiting people for extremist religious activities with the IMU in 1997.
Russian human rights activist Vitaly Ponomaryov told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service that he wonders why Dadakhonov's extradition was not covered by the Ukrainian media and whether the Ukrainian government adhered to its international obligations not to extradite people to countries where they can be tortured.
Hundreds of Namangani's followers have been arrested in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.
Abdumumin Dadakhonov, who the Uzbek security service says was involved with extremist religious groups for more than 10 years, was arrested in Ukraine last year and extradited to Uzbekistan.
The Uzbek security service says Dadakhonov began recruiting people for extremist religious activities with the IMU in 1997.
Russian human rights activist Vitaly Ponomaryov told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service that he wonders why Dadakhonov's extradition was not covered by the Ukrainian media and whether the Ukrainian government adhered to its international obligations not to extradite people to countries where they can be tortured.
Hundreds of Namangani's followers have been arrested in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.