PRESS-RELEASE
Press-Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On May 2, 2007 the Court on criminal cases of the Sergeli district of Tashkent city concluded its investigation of the criminal case of Umida Niyazova, who was acknowledged as guilty on three articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

- article 223 (“Illegal intersection of state border”);
- article 246 (“Smuggling”);
- article 244(1) (“Publishing or distribution of documents containing threat to public security and public order”);

Court was conducted openly. Representatives of “Human Rights Watch” and other NGOs attended the session of the Court.

On the basis of all crimes of U.Niyazova, she was sentenced to seven years of imprisonment with serving her sentence in the colony with general regime.

During the investigation it was also found out that U.Niyazova was engaged in financing of different, not officially registered, non-governmental and human rights organizations, acting in Uzbekistan. At the same time, the financial resources, which has been transmitted to indicated illegal organizations, U.Niyazova was receiving from several foreign diplomatic representatives, accredited in Uzbekistan.

These facts, according to the International Law, could be considered as attempts to interfere to internal affairs of the sovereign state.