Uzbek Human Rights Activist Slain

The chairwoman of Uzbekistan’s Human Rights Alliance, Yelena Urlayeva, told RFE/RL that human rights activist Akromhoja Mukhiddinov was stabbed to death in the town of Tinchlik in the northern Tashkent Province.

Urlayeva said Mukhiddinov was attacked by three men in the late afternoon on July 25, one of whom stabbed him with a knife.

Urlayeva said police have arrested a suspect. The police have not commented on the case.

Urlayeva speculated that the murder could be related to Mukhiddinov’s human rights activities.

Mukhiddinov, 59, had been affiliated with the Urlayeva-led Human Rights Alliance for the last seven years and was involved in a campaign to protect the rights of local farmers.

-- RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service