OSCE HAILS RELEASE OF JOURNALIST DJAMSHID KARIMOV

VIENNA, Austria – Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today welcomed the release of Djamshid Karimov, a journalist from Djizak, Uzbekistan.

Karimov had been confined almost continuously to a psychiatric institution in Samarkand since 2006.

“I wholeheartedly welcome Karimov’s release,” Mijatović said. “It is especially positive that this decision comes soon after the release of Muhammad Bekjanov and I encourage the authorities to release all imprisoned members of the media, including Yusuf Ruzimuradov, Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov and Dilmurod Said.”

In December Mijatović appealed to the President of Uzbekistan to use his authority to release the journalists.

Welcoming this positive development, Mijatović offered the assistance of her Office to the authorities to work on all media freedom issues in the country.