News

Tajikistan: Buzurgmehr Yorov is in punitive confinement. His life is under threat.

The authorities of Tajikistan continue to worsen conditions for the lawyer Buzurgmehr Yorov. His life is staying under threat. The conditions in the punitive confinement leave much to be desired. Relatives of Buzurgmehr are also under constant pressure through threatening and intimidation. They are forbidden to tell anybody anything on situation of Buzurgmehr.

Uzbekistan: 2 Activists Freed, Others Arrested Guarantee Freedom to Express Critical Views

Uzbek authorities should drop politically motivated charges that stem from the exercise of basic human rights and release all those imprisoned as a result of such charges, Human Rights Watch said. Mirziyoyev should also send an unambiguous message to all law enforcement that no one in Uzbekistan will be punished for the peaceful exercise of free speech.

IKEA Bans Turkmen Cotton from its Products

In its final remarks, IKEA also said that it does not exclude lifting the ban and returning to run projects in Turkmenistan “should the situation improve.”
Turkmenbashi Textile Complex was IKEA’s supplier in Turkmenistan and produced beddings under the names «Malou» and «Nyponros» (see photo), ATN’s sources said. IKEA sold these products in many stores across Europe.

KNPRK: Unions Under Pressure. The Appellate Instance Upheld the Court Decision

On September 29, 2017, the appellate instance of the Regional Court of Shymkent upheld the decision of the Yenbekshinskiy District Court of the Town of Shymkent. It will be recalled that on July 25, 2017, Judge Svetlana Shinaliyeva of the Yenbekshinskiy District Court of the Town of Shymkent returned a guilty verdict to the KNPRK President Larisa Kharkova, sentencing her to four years of restricted freedom of movement, one hundred hours of community service, and a 5-year ban from holding leadership positions in non-governmental associations and other non-commercial organisations. The sentence also prohibits Kharkova from changing her place of residence and her place of work, visiting certain places, and leaving town without permission from competent bodies.

13yo girl who had to collect boxes at bazaar in Osh to provide family nominated for International Children’s Peace Prize

Aychurek Sulaimanova, a 13-year-old girl from Osh who was forced to collect boxes at a bazaar for a living and to provide her family, was nominated for The International Children’s Peace Prize founded by the KidsRights Foundation, the Center for Protection of Children said.

Uzbekistan’s new leader fails his first test

One year after the death of Islam Karimov, the continued use of forced labour in Uzbekistan’s cotton fields shows how slow the pace of change really is.

Uzbekistan: school directors speak out about regular physical abuse by local government official

A video shot in secret and posted online shows a district official in Uzbekistan beating and humiliating several principals of local schools. The district chief was reportedly punishing the principals for their failure to send teachers to an Independence Day celebration in late August. (Current Time TV)

Uzbekistan Reducing Cotton Fields But Forced Labor Remains

Uzbekistan is cutting back on its cotton cultivation to make way for fruit and vegetable fields. While that happens, however, the custom of forcing state workers to pick cotton is proving hard to abandon.

Turkmenistan kicks off mobilization of civil servants for cotton season

Reports from the Turkmen regions of Mary and Lebap said that the authorities have started summoning civil servants for the cotton picking season since August 15. The roll call started with middle school support staff, janitors and guards, while teachers are likely to be called up from the start of the school year. Their participation will be discussed at the upcoming teachers’ meetings ahead of September 1st.

Conviction of trade union leaders: “Another nail in the coffin of the independent trade union movement in Kazakhstan”

The global trade union movement is calling on the government of Kazakhstan to review the conviction of a prominent labour leader in a case that has been described as a “blatant violation of human and trade union rights in Kazakhstan.”