Press Center of the Initiative Group of Independent Human Rights Activists reports that Jadgar Turlibekov, a prominent human rights activist from Kashkadarja, was amnestied on December 24, 2006.

Turlibekov, Chairman of the Kashkadarja Regional Division of the Uzbek Society for Human Rights, was charged with extortion and sentenced to 3.5 years imprisonment in October 2006.

A team of nearly 30 armed officers of the Interior Ministry was dispatched to make the arrest. The human rights community condemned charges against Turlibekov as fabricated.

Turlibekov was serving time in Colony KIN 64/3 in the settlement of Tavaksai, Tashkent region.

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Initiative Group of Independent Human Rights Activists