Numbering several dozens, activists of political parties of the opposition denied official registration and human rights organizations of Uzbekistan organized a picket in front of the British Embassy in Tashkent on December 7 morning. The protesters demanded the return of former Ambassador Craig Murray recalled by his superiors from Tashkent in October 2004. Human rights activists believe that removal of Murray was an outcome of the pressure applied by the authorities of Uzbekistan he had constantly criticized for human rights violations.

The protesters spent almost three hours on the sidewalk in front of the building, chanting "Murray! Murray!". This is not the first protest action organized by the opposition in the diplomat's support in the two months since his departure from Tashkent. Leaders of the People's Movement Birlik, parties Erk and Ozod Dekhkan, Democratic Forum of Uzbekistan, Uzbek Human Rights Society, Human Rights Organization Ezgulik, Center of Democratic Initiatives, Association of Human Rights Organizations, and Committee of Mothers Against Death Sentence even sent a letter to Prime Minister Tony Blair calling Murray the only representative of Western democracy to constantly defend the people of Uzbekistan from the tyranny of security structures mercilessly bearing down on dissention. The letter appraised Murray's activities as facilitating development of democracy, freedom of speech, and construction of civic society.

Asked by Ferghana.Ru if they thought their protests would compel the Foreign Office to revise its decision with regard to Murray, the protesters replied that they hoped so. In any case, they intend to go on expressing their disagreement with the policy of the Foreign Office that all but sided up with the undemocratic regime in Uzbekistan violating fundamental rights and freedoms.

Some protesters held hand-written placards demanding a boycott of the parliamentary election slated for December 26. Denied the permission to run for the parliament, the opposition regards the forthcoming election as undemocratic. Prevented from having their candidates for the parliament nominated by initiative groups and therefore deprived of the last chance to engage in legitimate political activities, opposition leaders decided to concentrate on protest actions, the latter becoming more and more regular.