A prominent Andijan human rights activist Saidjahon Zainabitdinov was amnestied together with several other political prisoners following the order of the Main Directorate of Administrating Punishment under the Interior Ministry of Uzbekistan. Saidjahon Zainabitdinov founded the Appellation Human Rights Center and witnessed the Andijan events of May 2002.

The name of the human rights activist Saidjahon Zainabitdinov hit the headlines long before May 13, 2005. He was indicted for libel and dissemination of false information. The Andijan court initiated a criminal proceeding against the rights activists disseminating information-letters "On human rights abuse".

During the information blockade that engulfed Uzbekistan on May 13, 2005, messages from Saidjahon Zainabitdinov were forwarded to the leading world news agencies, TV channels, radio stations and newspapers.

Zainabitdinov was arrested a week after the Andijan events. Seven months later he was tried in the court that venue is still kept in secret. Neither journalists, nor rights activists or relatives were permitted to present at the hearing. It was the paragon of hearing in private. The public activist was accused of "information dissemination fomenting the panic" and "terrorism" and sentenced to seven years of imprisonment.

Saidjahon Zainabitdinov was released on February 4. At present he is with his family that was almost lost for three years. Saidjahon says he needs some time to get adjusted to the new environment. He was deeply surprised by the amnesty. He was treated quite well in the prison thought was completely isolated.

Saidjahon Zainabitdinov. Photo © Kommersant

Main Directorate of Administrating Punishment under the Interior Minister of Uzbekistan ordered to release a prominent Uzbek human rights activist and journalist Umida Niyazova on February 2, the Uzbek website Newsuz.com reported. Niyazova was conditionally sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment for illegal border crossing, smuggling and spreading materials posing threat to the society (the police found a report “Lead rain: Andijan slaughter May 13”of Human Rights Watch). Niyazova was released on the amnesty project approved by the Oliy Majlis (the upper chamber of Parliament) in November 2007.

Human rights activist Umida Niyazova was arrested by the Uzbek transport prosecutor's office and charged with illegal border crossing on January 22, 2007. The Sergeli district court sentenced Umida to seven years of imprisonment in Tashkent in early May 2007. Later the Appellate Unit of the Tashkent city court reduced the sentence to the conditional with three years of probation. Now, she was released on the amnesty project.

The son of another Jizzakh human rights activist Ihtiyar Khamraev accused of disorderly conduct was included in the amnesty, Newsuz.com reported.

Ezgulik Human Rights Group activist Karim Bazarbaev, who had been jailed for three months, was included in the amnesty as well.

Earlier, international human rights watchdogs decried the Uzbek law enforcement bodies for escaping to amnesty political prisoners. One can suppose that the unexpected release of several human rights activists is triggered by Karimov's strife for rapprochement with the EU and U.S. before his visit to Russia. The unconstitutional president attempts to demonstrate his humanism and kindness.