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Wednesday, 07 December 2005
RIGHTS GROUP WANTS INVESTIGATION OF UZBEK MINISTER IN GERMANY
By empty (12/7/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)
The German office of Amnesty International issued a press release on 5 December asking German Federal Prosecutor Kay Nehm to investigate Uzbek Interior Minister Zokir Almatov and, if necessary, issue a warrant for his arrest. Although Almatov is on a list of Uzbek officials banned from the European Union, he is reportedly undergoing medical treatment in Germany, with his admission justified on humanitarian grounds. Amnesty International alleged that Almatov is suspected of responsibility for the \"systematic torture of prisoners in Uzbekistan\" as well as involvement in the \"massacre in Andijon in May of this year.
The German office of Amnesty International issued a press release on 5 December asking German Federal Prosecutor Kay Nehm to investigate Uzbek Interior Minister Zokir Almatov and, if necessary, issue a warrant for his arrest. Although Almatov is on a list of Uzbek officials banned from the European Union, he is reportedly undergoing medical treatment in Germany, with his admission justified on humanitarian grounds. Amnesty International alleged that Almatov is suspected of responsibility for the \"systematic torture of prisoners in Uzbekistan\" as well as involvement in the \"massacre in Andijon in May of this year.\" Barbara Lochbihler, head of Amnesty International\'s German office, said that Germany is obligated by international law and the UN Convention Against Torture to investigate Almatov. (RFE/RL)