By empty (3/6/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)
A court in Uzbekistan has sentenced another opposition leader to more than 10 years in prison. Sanjar Umarov, head of the Sunshine Uzbekistan Opposition Alliance, was convicted of alleged economic crimes. He was arrested shortly after calling on members of parliament to discuss economic reform.
A court in Uzbekistan has sentenced another opposition leader to more than 10 years in prison. Sanjar Umarov, head of the Sunshine Uzbekistan Opposition Alliance, was convicted of alleged economic crimes. He was arrested shortly after calling on members of parliament to discuss economic reform. Critics say Mr Umarov is the latest victim of the Uzbek government\'s determination to quash all criticism and political dissent. A court in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, sentenced Sanjar Umarov to a total of 14 years in prison, but said the sentence should be reduced to just over 10 years under an amnesty agreement. Umarov was also ordered to pay more than $8m in fines. He was found guilty of heading a criminal group laundering money through offshore companies, tax avoidance and hiding foreign currency. He declared that he was innocent of all the charges. (BBC)