Uzbek Rights Group Says Member Arrested
June 27, 2006
June 27, 2006 -- An Uzbek human rights group reports that one of its members has been arrested in the central region of Jizzakh.
The Ezgulik group says in a statement that Mamarazhab Nazarov, who is also a leader of the banned Birlik opposition party, was arrested on June 22.
The group says Jizzakh rights activists obtained confirmation of Nazarov's arrest from local police. It also says a criminal case has been opened against Nazarov on fraud charges.
Ezgulik says the arrest is politically motivated. It also calls upon authorities to release Nazarov and allow him to hire a lawyer.
There were no immediate comments from Uzbek government representatives.
(ezgulik.org, harakat.net)