Uzbekistan Suspends Activities Of U.S. Democracy Group
January 13, 2006
13 January 2006 -- An Uzbek court has suspended the activity of the U.S.-based pro-democracy group Freedom House, saying it lacked transparency in its work.
The ruling, issued on 12 January, said Freedom House must cease all activities for six months.
Branka Sesto, Freedom House's director in Uzbekistan, said it planned to appeal the decision and use all legal means to continue its work.
Freedom House is the latest foreign organization to have its activity suspended in Uzbekistan. Last year, Uzbek courts suspended and later closed the offices of IREX, which ran education programs. The London-based Institute for War and Peace Reporting withdrew from the country citing security concerns.
(AP, Reuters)