Stabb (R) with Karimov, in Tashkent, 4 June 2008

HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IMPROVED IN UZBEKISTAN

June 4, 2008: Alexander Stabb, acting Chairman of the OSCE, said that "there is a certain progress in the sphere of human rights situation in Uzbekistan.
Furthermore, there is a certain positive development in the democratization of country as well. The country has now cancelled the death penalty, liberalized the legal system, as well as recently released the human rights activists," Stabb said to journalists in Tashkent.
In his two day visit to Uzbekistan, the OSCE Head met with the President, Parliamentarians and representatives of citizen societies. The meeting was focused on the security in the Central Asia, as well as human rights, democratization and other issues. (Sources: Trend News Agency, 05/06/2008)