Uzbekistan confirms closed trials of 58 people

Agence France Presse December 5 Uzbekistan is trying a further 58 people in closed court proceedings over last May's mass bloodshed in the eastern city of Andijan, the supreme court said Thursday. The defendants being tried in four separate trials "are accused of carrying out premeditated murders in aggravating circumstances, terrorist acts and other especially serious crimes," the court said in a written statement. Two of the trials are taking place in the towns of Tuytepa and Yangibozor, both about 40 kilometres (25 miles) east of Tashkent, and two in the towns of Gulistan and Yangier, both about 100 kilometres from Tashkent, the statement said. Security reasons had dictated that the trials should be closed, the supreme court said, underlining that this was in line with Uzbek law. "Taking into account that the court process will require the movement of large number of victims and witnesses, in order to ensure their safety the above criminal cases will take place in closed proceedings," the statement said. The latest hearings follow the sentencing last month by the supreme court of 15 men to jail terms from 14 to 20 years over the Andijan violence. Uzbek authorities have said 187 people were killed in the May 13 violence, blaming it all on the actions of Islamic insurgents.