Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Uzbek authorities this week jailed an opposition leader and a human-rights activist in a continuation of a wholesale crackdown on dissent. Sandjar Umarov, head of the opposition party Sunshine Uzbekistan, was given nearly 11 years in prison for operating a “criminal group.” Umarov has been a vocal critic of last May’s massacre in Andijan, when government troops systematically killed hundreds of protesters. Human-rights activist Mukhtabar Tojibayeva was sentenced to eight years for vaguely defined economic crimes. “This is a puppet show,” she shouted to the judge as she was led away, “and a tragedy.” Since the Andijan uprising, Uzbekistan has jailed nearly 200 people and booted numerous foreign charities out of the country.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
The elite falcon trade in the Middle EastUnder the Radar Popularity of the birds of prey has been ‘soaring’ despite doubts over the legality of sourcing and concerns for animal welfare
-
A running list of the international figures Donald Trump has pardonedin depth The president has grown bolder in flexing executive clemency powers beyond national borders
-
Mixed nuts: RFK Jr.’s new nutrition guidelines receive uneven reviewsTalking Points The guidelines emphasize red meat and full-fat dairy
