Karimov should uphold media pledge by freeing journalists

New York, June 27, 2013-Uzbek President Islam Karimov should follow through on his public commitment today to support his country's journalists by releasing the unjustly jailed reporter Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. News accounts have reported that the health of Abdurakhmanov, who has been imprisoned since 2008, has deteriorated in prison.

In celebration of Uzbekistan's national Day of Media Workers, Karimov today stressed the importance of the media for the future of Uzbekistan and pledged his promise to address journalists' concerns.

"We are deeply concerned about the welfare of Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov, who has been wrongly imprisoned for five years in retaliation for his critical reporting on local government and police," CPJ Europe and Central Asia Nina Ognianova said. "We call on Uzbek authorities to release him at once."

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