A group of international observers proved the recent accusations regarding to death case of Andrey Shelkovenko in Uzbekistan wrong and hastily judged.

Andrei Shelkovenko, 36, died while in detention at the Bustonlik District Police Precinct in Gazalkent, near the Uzbek capital Tashkent. Shortly after his death some human rights organisations and Mass Media accused Uzbek law enforcement bodies claiming that Shelkovenko?s death had been result of torture and mistreatment.

The examination group comprised of Uzbek law enforcement specialists and monitored by representatives of Freedom House in Uzbekistan, and also forensic experts from USA and Canada, carried out necessary procedures for several days starting from May 27 and established no signs of torture or physical abuse in A.Shelkovenko?s body.

Head of the Freedom House office in Tashkent M.Server said at the press conference held in Tashkent on May 31 that Uzbek Government was open and fair in conducting the investigation on the death case of A.Shelkovenko and gave credit to the Government for allowing international observers to participate in this process.

Mr. V.Jekovich, a former US Ambassador to Bosnia, who monitored the examination process as an international observer, asserted that the Uzbek law enforcement bodies provided all what was necessary for observers to exert fair and accurate conclusions.

In particular, he evaluated the investigation process of Shelkovenko?s case by the Uzbek authorities to be very open and at a high professional level. The outcomes of the examination fully confirm that Shelkovenko?s death is a result of suicide act, he added.

Dr. M. Pollanen, a forensic expert from Canada and Mr. M. Gennon, US specialist on criminal law have also joined to his statement confirming that all the signs point out to the fact that Shelkovenko had committed suicide by hanging himself.

A.Shelkovenko was charged of premeditated murder in accordance with clause 97 of the Uzbekistan?s Criminal Code.