|
Uzbek opposition leader sentenced to 10 years in prison
 TASHKENT: An Uzbek court sentenced Wednesday a leader of a banned opposition group that criticised the violent suppression of an uprising last year to 10 years in prison for economic crimes. Rights groups condemned the trial as politically motivated as the Sunshine Uzbekistan opposition coalition has been a vocal critic of the crackdown in the eastern city of Andijan in which non-governmental organisations say hundreds of people were killed. "The court sentences Nodira Hidoyatova to 10 years in prison," said Tashkent court judge Zokirjon Isayev. Hidoyatova, coordinator for the coalition, was found guilty on seven charges, including tax evasion, money laundering and membership of an organised criminal group. "The court found that Hidoyatova, while being in an organised criminal group, has committed heavy and especially heavy crimes that have damaged the state," Isayev said. State prosecutors had demanded a 12-year prison sentence for Hidoyatova, who has been on trial since last month. Posted by: Fred 2006-03-02 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=144163 |