U.S. Congress overwhelmingly approves resolution supporting Sanjar Umarov
UzLand.Info
December 19
The United States Congress has overwhelmingly approved a resolution expressing concern about the detention and mistreatment of Dr. Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan. The House of Representatives approved H. Res. 545 (sponsored by Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen) on a voice vote today. On November 2, 2005, the United States Senate unanimously approved S. Res. 295, the companion resolution concerning Umarov. The Senate resolution was sponsored by Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar and joined by Majority Leader Bill Frist and Senator John McCain.
Обсудить статью на форуме The passage of the House resolution represents a historic milestone in Congress. According to research conducted by the Congressional Research Service, it has been at least 20 years since both houses of Congress passed a common resolution strictly addressing the human rights of a foreign political dissident. Our attorneys' research indicates that the last such resolution was the Mandela Freedom Resolution passed by Congress in 1984 (H. Res. 430 and S. Res. 386, 98th Congress).
Gulam Umarov, Umarov's son and spokesperson for the family, expressed his family's gratitude for the action taken by Congress: "We are profoundly grateful to Members of Congress for their united stand in support of my father. We ask President Bush and his administration to call firmly for democracy and human rights in our country. This is the cause of my father and the hope of all freedom-loving people in Uzbekistan."
Sanjar Umarov is Chairman of the Sunshine Coalition of Uzbekistan, the principal secular opposition group in the country. The Sunshine Coalition opposes the repressive policies of President Islam Karimov's regime and favors democratic, free market, and human rights reforms in Uzbekistan.
On October 22, 2005, the Karimov government arrested Umarov in Tashkent on baseless charges of financial wrongdoing. Since that time, there have been a number of highly disturbing developments. Sanjar Umarov's Uzbek attorney has observed that Umarov has exhibited signs of compulsory psychological treatment while in custody. Yet despite these signs, the Karimov government continues to prohibit Umarov from being examined by independent medical professionals. The Karimov government also continues to obstruct Umarov's Uzbek attorneys from investigating the still unspecified charges against Umarov and providing him with an adequate defense.
The Sunshine Coalition of Uzbekistan is represented by Maynard, Cooper & Gale, P.C. The attorneys of Maynard, Cooper & Gale who are actively involved in representing the Sunshine Coalition are Alan F. Enslen, James L. (Jay) Mitchell, and O.A. "Tres" Cleveland III.
P.S. Text of H. RES. 545