Czech Republic: Revoke invitation repressive leader of Uzbekistan

The President shall require the Tashkent improvements in the situation of human rights

Czech President Milos Zeman should withdraw its invitation authoritarian leader of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to visit the country on an official visit. This was announced on February 10 31 organization in an open letter  to the Czech president. Among the signatories - trade unions, investors and human rights groups from the Czech Republic, Uzbekistan and other countries.

"Given the egregious human rights situation in Uzbekistan and its persistent refusal to ensure compliance with the targets in this area, established the European Union  to improve relations, it is an invitation to look out of place and out of season - says Steve Swerdlow , a researcher at Human Rights Watch's Europe and Central Asia. - President Zeman must follow a long tradition of the country in promoting human rights and put a question about the visit as long as the government of Uzbekistan has not demonstrate concrete improvements in human rights and freedoms. "

The official visit  is scheduled for 20 - 22 February 2014

Collective letter  was sent to the President Zeman February 10, and within a few hours followed by a response  of its secretariat confirming intention to hold the visit and incorrect reflection activities Human Rights Watch in Uzbekistan. Today, Human Rights Watch sent the president a new Zeman letter with counterarguments.

This post originally appeared on the Human Rights Watch website here.