On May 1st, 2007 Sergeli District Criminal Court of Tashkent City finished the consideration of the criminal case with respect to Umida Niyazova who was found guilty in accordance with the following three articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan:

-Article 223 ? Illegal border crossing;

-Article 246 ? Smuggling;

-Article 2441 ? Preparation or distribution of materials posing a threat to public security and order.

The Court session was open for public. The representatives of Human Rights Watch and other NGO?s have participated in the session.

Due to overall crimes committed by Umida Niyazova, she was sentences to 7 years of imprisonment. The investigation has also concluded that Umida Niyazova was involved in financing various unregistered NGOs and human rights organizations functioning in Uzbekistan. Umida Niyazova has received financial assets transferred to those illegal organizations from a number of foreign diplomatic missions accredited in Uzbekistan.

In accordance with the International Law these facts should be considered as the interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state.



Press-Service

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Republic of Uzbekistan

May 2, 2007