Uzbekistan: Arrest of Human Rights Defender Gulshan Karaeva

 Human rights defenders in Uzbekistan need to know their government will enforce their right to operate without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions and reprisals, including judicial harassment.

At this point, the very opposite is still taking place and it is taking a toll on human rights defender Ms Gulshan Karaeva, who was arrested in her home in Qarshi in late September and taken to a local police station where she was informed of charges brought against her.

It is the latest example of what appears to be a clear case of government retaliation and it is ongoing. Gulshan Karaeva has previously been the subject of threats and intimidation; her dog has been poisoned, she has been physically attacked. 

Gulshan is the Chairperson of the Kashkadarya regional branch of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU). She was charged under two articles of the Criminal Code: article 139, “Slander”, and article 140, “Insult”. 

These charges are based on allegations by two women who Gulshan Karaeva suspects of working for the National Security Service (SNB).
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