The UN express serious concern over reports of torture of people detained in Uzbekistan

UN Representative Manfred Novak states: “”We have recently received many reports not only in connection with the events in Andijon, but also after them, suggesting the widespread use of torture. The problem is that this is virtually impossible to monitor this on location. The OSCE which previously carried out monitoring has been prevented from doing this. Nongovernmental organizations which observed the running of court trials of those charged over the Andijon events are in a similar situation.”

Despite a number of amendments introduced by the Uzbek authorities to legislation, Novak says that the situation, recently and particular since the Andijon events has deteriorated.

He says that he has asked the Uzbekistan government to visit the country but has not yet received a response.