HRES545DEC23

TheWeekInCongress.com

Week Ending December 16, 2005

H.RES.545 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the arrest of Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan.

<< Click flag for map and country data, Uzbekistan

BRIEF

The Resolution is speculative about the reasons for arrest of Uzbek businessman and political opposition party leader Sanjar Umarov. All of the Resolution preamble assertions seem to be based on incidents that ‘reportedly’ happened to Mr. Umarov but there appears to be no specific verifiable data including whether or not he was actually arrested.

So, if he was arrested and was experiencing less than his legal rights under the Uzbek Constitution the Resolution asks that he is accorded his rights and that charges against him are made clear.

Sponsor: Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL-18^th)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote December 18, 2005.

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

MORE INFORMATION

Whereas the United States supports the development of democracy, free markets, and civil society in Uzbekistan and in other states in Central Asia;

Whereas the rule of law, the impartial application of the law, and equal justice for all courts of law are pillars of all democratic societies;

Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly arrested in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on October 22, 2005;

Whereas Sanjar Umarov is a businessman and leader of the Uzbek opposition party, Sunshine Coalition;

Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly taken into custody on October 22, 2005, during a crackdown on the Sunshine Coalition that included a raid of its offices and seizure of its records;

Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly charged with grand larceny;

Whereas press accounts report that representatives of Sanjar Umarov claim that Mr. Umarov was drugged and abused while at his pretrial confinement center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but such accounts could not be immediately confirmed, and official information about the health, whereabouts, and treatment while in custody of Mr. Umarov has thus far been unavailable;

Whereas the United States has expressed its serious concern regarding the overall state of human rights in Uzbekistan and is seeking to clarify the facts of this case;

Whereas the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have expressed concern about the arrest and possible abuse of Sanjar Umarov; and

Whereas the Government of Uzbekistan is party to various treaty obligations, and in particular those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obligate governments to provide for due process in criminal cases: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--

(1) the law enforcement and judicial authorities of Uzbekistan should ensure that Sanjar Umarov is accorded the full measure of his rights under the Uzbekistan Constitution to defend himself against any and all charges that may be brought against him, in a fair and transparent process, so that individual justice may be done;

(2) the Government of Uzbekistan should observe its various treaty obligations, especially those under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obligate governments to provide for due process in criminal cases; and

(3) the Government of Uzbekistan should publicly clarify the charges against Sanjar Umarov, his current condition, and his whereabouts.

No reproduction or distribution without written permission from TheWeekInCongress.com.