After 3 unsuccessful attempts, Uzbek Ministry of Justice today registered human rights organization Huquqiy Tayanch (Legal Support), headed by former political prisoner Azam Farmonov, which plans to advocate on criminal justice reform. It is the first human rights group registered since 2003.
In February 2019, Azam Farmonov, along with human rights defenders Agzam Turgunov and Dilmurod Saidov, applied for registration of the organization. The application was rejected on March 29.
Azam Farmonov in 2006, being an activist of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan (HRSU), was charged with extorting US$ 250 and was sentenced to 9 years in prison. He was serving his sentence in Jasliq colony in Karakalpakstan. In 2015, the prison sentence was extended by 5 years and 26 days for “disobeying the staff of the penal institution”.
