USA: 73-year old protester of the Birdamlik open-ended hunger strike is placed in hospital
Today, on August 12 the open-ended hunger strike of the Birdamlik opposition movement continued in Washington DC, the capital of USA in front of the RFE/RL headquarters. The opposition members demand to abolish the censorship of Uzbek service of RFE/RL, Radio Ozodlik, as well as to offer the tribune to all the leaders of Uzbek political opposition, residing in Uzbekistan and abroad.
Bakhodir Choriev informed Ferghana.Ru that by the noon, Eastern Time in USA, 73-year old Yadgar Turlibekov, the oldest participant of the hunger strike, got sick and the protesters had to call for ambulance. At the moment, Mr. Turlibekov is placed to one of the hospitals in Washington DC. The rest protesters feel ok and continue the hunger strike, making no changes in the presented requirements.
Yadgar Turlibekov one the way to hospital
It has to be mentioned that, responding to the inquiry of Ferghana.Ru, on the third day of open-ended hunger strike, Julian Knapp, the Director of RFE/RL for public relations, presented official response, indicating that " RFE/RL takes concrete criticisms of its programming very seriously and has investigated past concerns expressed by members of the Uzbek opposition. RFE/RL has not been able to corroborate any specific claims of alleged bias in our programs. Working under very difficult circumstances, including threats to their lives and their families,
RFE/RL's Uzbek service maintains RFE/RL's high professional standards and adheres to a strict professional code with regard to balance and tone". Moreover, Mr. Knapp informed that "No member of RFE/RL's staff in Washington "promised that the protesters will be offered air time." In fact, no member of the Washington staff has the authority to make such promises".
The point is that Bakhodir Choriev, the leader of the Birdamlik movement, earlier informed Ferghana.Ru that "Martin Zvaners, RFE/RL deputy Director for public relations met the protesters and promised that opposition members will be offered air time for the interview, when they can express their requirements in the expanded format and answer the questions, raised by the management of radio stations and audience". Mr. Choriev gave the following comment to the words of Mr. Knapp that "nobody promised air time": Unfortunately, we had misunderstanding due to language barrier. I misunderstood Mr. Zvaners in the issue about possible interview".
Ferghana.Ru addressed the inquiry to the management of RFE/RL, also considering the fact that the hunger strike of the opposition members were not covered at the web-sites of RFE/RL and Uzbek service Radio Ozodlik.
Julian Knapp, the Executive Director for public relations, provided the official response to Ferghana.Ru:
Dear Editors,
Your article concerning the protest by members of the Birdamlik Movement at RFE/RL's Washington office contains errors that could lead readers to draw incorrect judgments concerning RFE/RL broadcast efforts to Uzbekistan.
No member of RFE/RL's staff in Washington "promised that the protesters will be offered air time." In fact, no member of the Washington staff has the authority to make such promises. All
editorial decisions are made by the journalists and managers of the respective RFE/RL broadcast services, in accordance with our standards of professional journalism.
RFE/RL takes concrete criticisms of its programming very seriously and has investigated past concerns expressed by members of the Uzbek opposition. RFE/RL has not been able to corroborate any specific claims of alleged bias in our programs. Working under very difficult
circumstances, including threats to their lives and their families, RFE/RL's Uzbek service maintains RFE/RL's high professional standards and adheres to a strict professional code with regard to balance and tone.
RFE/RL's Uzbek service is dedicated to RFE/RL's mission to provide objective and unbiased news, analysis, and discussion.