By empty (11/14/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Uzbekistan\'s top court on Monday convicted 15 men for organizing a May uprising that killed more than 180 people, ending a trial that was criticized as a government-orchestrated show with testimony coerced by torture. All 15 defendants had pleaded guilty, but human rights groups alleged the confessions came as the result of torture. Judge Bakhtiyor Jamolov said the trial had been objective and fair and passed sentences in line with prosecutors\' requests, giving five defendants 20 years in prison, one man 18 years, three 17 years, two 16 years and the remaining four 14 years.

By empty (11/14/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

An outspoken critic of President Nursultan Nazarbayev was found shot to death in his home, his family\'s lawyer said Sunday. Zamanbek Nurkadilov was found lying face-down by his wife Saturday night, shot twice in the heart and once in the head, said the family lawyer, Serially Musin. Nurkadilov, 61, fired as emergency situations minister last year after criticizing Nazarbayev, was supporting the opposition candidate in next month\'s presidential elections in this former Soviet Central Asian nation.

By empty (11/14/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Kyrgyz human rights commissioner Tursunbai Bakir uulu has described the two-year moratorium on rallies proposed by the Kyrgyz Writers\' Union as unconstitutional. \"Commenting on the recent appeal of the Writers\' Union to the president and speaker of parliament on the need to impose a two year moratorium on rallies and meetings in Kyrgyzstan, the ombudsman said that the demand contradicts the constitution,\" the press service of the ombudsman told Interfax on Monday. \"The ombudsman notified parliament speaker Omurbek Tekebayev that the proposed moratorium won\'t conform with the provisions of the constitution or the Law \"on Free Organization of Peaceful and Unarmed Rallies and Demonstrations.