Lawyer Tatiana Davydova told Uznews.net that the Transport Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan intends to complete investigation of the case of human rights activist Umida Niyazova within a week.

According to Davydova, the investigation may be proclaimed completed on Friday or Monday. What charges are to be pressed against Niyazova will be clear only after that.

Detaining Niyazova on January 21, officers of the Transport Prosecutor's Office accused her of smuggling and illegal crossing of the border.

Niyazova's family claims that the human rights activist is in a single cell of what is colloquially known as Tashtyurma or Tashkent jail. Her sister Shafoat was permitted to visit her there ten days ago.

Leaving Shafoat with her sister alone, Investigator Ulugbek Artykov told the woman to see with her own eyes that nobody was torturing Niyazova as some media outlets had reported.

According to Shafoat, Niyazova did not complain of any mistreatment at wardens' hands but said that her single cell and interrogations lasting 15 hours on end were a torture in themselves.

The arrest of Niyazova, 32, sparked protests in Uzbekistan and abroad as a symbol of continuing repressions. Prominent foreign human rights organizations and celebrities demand Niyazova's release.