AAAS Scientific Responsibility, Human Rights and Law Program

View Alerts By > Case | Date | Country | Victim

AAAS Human Rights Action Network

View the digitally signed version of this alert.

FACTS OF THE CASE:

On 28 August 2002, Human Rights Watch reported that the government of Uzbekistan forcibly detained two women in a psychiatric hospital in Tashkent. One of them, Elena Urlaeva, is a member of the human rights organization, the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan. She and another woman, Larissa Vdovina, were attending a peaceful protest on Tuesday, 27 August, in front of the Ministry of Justice building. They were protesting human rights abuses committed by the Uzbeki government against Urlaeva, who has been repeatedly targeted for her human rights activism. Police arrested both Urlaeva and Vdovina, along with six other protesters. The women were held in a district police station for one night, but then were transferred on 28 August to a psychiatric hospital for compulsory treatment. The other detainees were released the following day.

This is not the first time that Urlaeva has been forcibly detained in a psychiatric hospital. Last year, she was detained for two months. Human rights groups believe that the reason for her detention was her human rights activism. After her release, she continued working at the Human Rights Society and denounced her arrest. On 5 June 2002, a judge in Tashkent ordered that she again be detained in a psychiatric hospital. However, the police did not take action until August when she was arrested at the protest.

According to a press release issued by the Europe and Central Asia Division of Human Rights Watch, there is great concern that the “government is using old Soviet tactics in an attempt to silence Urlaeva and make her stop her human rights activities.” During the Soviet era, the government would detain human rights activists in psychiatric wards and forcibly drug them in reprisal for criticizing the government. Human Rights Watch researchers have confirmed that both women were given psychiatric drugs during their detention. Urlaeva told the researcher that she had been given "injections and tablets." In addition, she has not been allowed to see her family.

(Source of information for this case is Human Rights Watch, Europe and Central Asia Division.)

RELEVANT HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

• Article 7: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
• Article 9(1): Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law.
• Article 9(4): Anyone who is deprived of his [or her] liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings before a court, in order that court may decide without delay on the lawfulness of his [or her] detention and order his [or her] release if the detention is not lawful.
• Article 10: All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human person.
• Article 21: The right of peaceful assembly shall be recognized.

The Human Rights Defenders Declaration

• Article 6(b): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: As provided for in human rights and other applicable international instruments, freely to publish, impart or disseminate to others views, information and knowledge on all human rights and fundamental freedoms;
• Article 6(c): Everyone has the right, individually and in association with others: To study, discuss, form and hold opinions on the observance, both in law and in practice, of all human rights and fundamental freedoms and, through these and other appropriate means, to draw public attention to those matters.
• Article 12(2): The State shall take all necessary measures to ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individually and in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, de facto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary action as a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to in the [Universal Declaration of Human Rights].

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Please send faxes, letters, or emails:

• Requesting the immediate and unconditional release of Elena Urlaeva and Larissa Vdovina from the psychiatric hospital in Tashkent;
• Expressing concern that Urlaeva and Vdovina are being targeted for their human rights activism and participating in a peaceful protest; and
• Expressing serious concern about the apparent misuse of psychiatric hospitalization and medication as a means of targeting human rights activists.

APPEAL AND INQUIRY MESSAGES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

Feruz Nazirov
Minister of Health
The House of Government
Tashkent 700008
Republic of Uzbekistan
Fax: +998 (71) 144 10 33
Salutation: Dear Mr. Minister:

Islam Karimov
President of Uzbekistan
Presidential Residence
43 Uzbekistan St.
Tashkent 700163
Republic of Uzbekistan
Fax: +998 (71) 289 00 46
uzinfo@uzinfo.gov.uz
Salutation: Dear Mr. President:

COPIES SENT TO:

Ambassador Shavkat Khamrakulov
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: 202-293-6803
Fax: 202-293-6804
Salutation: Dear Mr. Ambassador:

Please send copies of your appeals, and any responses you may receive, or direct any questions you may have to Victoria Baxter, AAAS Science and Human Rights Program, 1200 New York Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20005; tel. 202-326-6797; email vbaxter@aaas.org; or fax 202-289-4950.

The keys to effective appeals are to be courteous and respectful, accurate and precise, impartial in approach, and as specific as possible regarding the alleged violation and the international human rights standards and instruments that apply to the situation. Reference to your scientific organization and professional affiliation is always helpful.

To ensure that appeals are current and credible, please do not continue to write appeals on this case after 90 days from the date of the posting unless an update has been issued.

To verify the contents of this alert and/or the electronic signature, please download the signed file for this alert along with the Program's PGP Public Key.

Main | CSFR Letters | Science and Human Rights Program