“Memorial” Human Rights Centre
Human Rights Information Center for Central
Asia
Uzbekistan: treatment of political convicts
in the strict order prison
located near Tashkent
According to the reports of Uzbekistan, powers of this country continue
to widely apply tortures and other unlawful methods of pressure towards
persons convicted for political and religious motives. It is confirmed
by the facts narrated by a former convict recently released from the colony
of a sentence serving (further as KIN-1, abbreviated in Russian from colonya
ispolnenia nakazaniya). We do not mention here his name and address for
his safety reasons.
The colony KIN-1 of strict regime is located in Sadovy settlement of Zangiota
district of Tashkent province. By data as of beginning of 2000, in the
KIN-1 were from 3,5 to 4 thousand people. As the former convicts told,
the conditions in KIN-1 are to be regarded as more bearable or easier compared
to the ones located in Navoi or Kashkadaria provinces.
The head if the colony (“owner of the zone”) is lieutenant-colonel Gulyam
Gafurovich Israilov. His deputies are mayor Rafik Taimuradovich Osmanov
(for regime-operative works), captain Zokir Sobirovich (surname is unknown)
for tutorial works, head of operations section – mayor Rafik Abdullaev,
head of orders’ secition – mayor Bakhrom Inoyatov. The latter two in the
“zone” are often called “chastisers” for their particular severe treatment
of convicts.
Treatment of the arrested for political and religious motives.
As of 1998 began a sharp increase of convicts’ numbers in KIN-1. Notably,
if before this period beds in huts (or baraks) were in two layers, then
beginning from 1998 the beds were put in three layers, although beds are
still insufficient and convicts have to sleep in shifts. Before 1998 in
“ zone” was a mosque, i.e. a little room for keeping of laundry and which
convicts — believers repaired by themselves. In 1998 this mosque was closed
and those who attended it got punished, i.e. were placed in SHIZO (or penalty
isolator). Guards headed by R.Osmanov took off joinamaz (little carpets
used for paying times) and books on religion, then tore them up and burnt.
Special section of the colony maintains personal dossiers of the convicted
for religious motives and their covers are marked by three stripes meaning
“particular dangerous perpetrator” that implies, that the convict is inclined
to escape, his case is not subject to reinvestigation, he is not to be
amnestied, needs particular supervising, etc.
For the last years when new convicts are brought to the zone, the officers
and the colony staff meet them at KPP (or check – pass point). Further
events as described by the former convict: “The following command is given:
“Whakhabies and hizbuts1 -three steps forwards!”. Then islamists are let
go through a “corridor”, where the officers and ensigns kick them, beating
by truncheons and sticks. After that the convicts are lead to a large board
on which is written National Anthem, and are forced to sing it on knees.
Those who sing not loudly or wrongly, are beaten, kicked over their heads
by feet, pressed down on necks, and are made to kiss earth.” Then all the
convicted for religious motives are kept in SHIZO (or penalty isolator)
for several months. Everyday they are subjected to tortures, batteries
and humiliations. They are demanded to give up their beliefs and admit
themselves as Christians. “Through tortures they are forced to cross themselves.
Those, who refuse making this “ritual”, are kept in SHIZO until he is given
up.”
Out of SHIZO the religious activists are harassed by criminals deliberately
set against believers by the colony officers who claim that the amnestied
would be more and treatment better, more human if not those “whakhabies
and hisbuts”.
So called “gady” – convicts who aligned with the administration and entered
the section of inner order guard (i.e. inner camp police), are particularly
active in harassing of believers. “Gady” (sometimes they are also called
as “Gestapo”) enjoy privileges and more rights compared with other convicts.
They bear special armlet with letters “SPP”, “ they have separate bedrooms
(not “baraks”), and food. Each of them have in the zone their informants
and informers. Ordinary convict must stand still if he meets them, putting
off his headdress. Otherwise he will be beaten up by the “gady” and with
their reports would get extra punishment in “the room of tortures” of operations
section.”
According to the words of the former convict, “gady” “beat and torture
“whakhabies”2for any minor reasons, inform against them, force them to
do the most dirty jobs, demand money from them in order to buy drugs and
alcohol, and if the convicts do not have money, they force them to write
letters to their relatives to bring money or drugs and drinks.
The colony staff also regularly beat (or, given in prisoners’ slang “kharchuyut”)
convicts in special space, which is also called “Dubinator” by a prison
slang (from Russian “dubina” – a thick stick). The reasons for batteries
could be non-execution of production plan, “non-observance of order”(for
instance, smoking in a forbidden place), report and even lack of money,
which is systematically extorted by prison guards. The former convict asserts,
that he knows a few cases, when “zeks” (or convicts) were butchered or
beaten to death or ended with suicide. “One threw himself out of the roof
of the club… The other hanged himself, not withstanding humiliations. He
was permanently made to clean toilet without firing a shot.(just by his
bare hands). One more believer was beaten to a death. It was after a ringing-off.
It was hearable as he cried during the batteries and called for a help.
Then he began to bawl: “Mother! Mother!” and grew quite. Soon we learned
that he died.” According to the former convict, the number of deaths sharply
increased in 1998, when Uzbek authorities began mass repressive actions
towards islamists.
Amnesties carried out in Uzbekistan, as a rule, are not referred to Muslims
convicted for political and religious motives. Even those of them, who
got sentenced by not political articles of CC, are often found themselves
in SHIZO for alleged or minor “violations”. This fact, in its turn, gives
a basis for a refusal of advance release or shortening of sentence term
granted by amnesty.
Although many of the convicts are transferred to the colony from SIZO (pre-trial
detention isolator) “in a very bad state of health”, as a rule transferring
to the hospital of Sangorodok in Tashkent is possible only for bribing.
Vitaly Ponomarev, Nikolai Mitrokhin
Moscow, March, 2001.