Uzbekistan amnestied Sanjar Umarov

Businessman Sanjar Umarov, political activist of Uzbek opposition group Sunshine Coalition, who was arrested in 2005 and sentenced to ten years in 2006 on embezzlement charges, was amnestied and released on November 7, 2009. His family lives in United States, and it is expected that he would soon be enabled to join them.
Cases involving political and human rights activists, prisoners of conscience, journalists, women or minors are especially sensitive, since they can cause ripple effect of raising fear among population during fragile process of democratization.
Regional Dialogue welcomes the latest action by the Uzbek government as it implements the institute of amnesty, showing compassion in all cases that involve controversy and can hurt national interests of Uzbekistan and its people.