16.06.12 12:15
The head of the Birdamlik movement in Uzbekistan, Malohat Eshankulova, who has been sentenced for picketing the Kyrgyz embassy to a fine worth $1,800, wants her sentence to be replaced with a 15-day-long imprisonment.
«I was fined 80 minimum monthly wages, which is over 5 million sums or $1,800, but my family does not have such money,» Eshankulova said.
She lives with two daughters – Zarnigor and Zarhala. The daughters are in school, but Eshankulova is jobless since she was sacked by the Uzbekistan national television company for fighting censorship and corruption 18 months ago.
«I am now filing an appeal with the city criminal court requesting the cancellation of the lower court ruling, but if they refuse me, I will appeal to the Supreme Court to have my fine replaced with a 15-day-long detention,» Eshankulova said.
Part 1 of Article 201 of the Code of Administrative Offence under which Eshankulova and her two colleagues were found guilty provides for such scenario.
It says: «The violation of rules of organising and holding meetings, rallies, street marches or demonstrations entails a fine worth from 60 to 80 minimum monthly wages or an administrative detention up to 15 days.»
«We were detained and convicted unlawfully,» Eshankulova said.
She also said that by organising a picket they only wanted to help the Uzbek people living in southern Kyrgyzstan.
«People in this country should not anymore become victims of nationalism and chauvinism,» she said.
She thinks protesters aiming at such noble humanistic purposes should not be caught like gangsters and bankrupted by ruinous fines.
Birdamlik planned to picket the Kyrgyz embassy in connection with the second anniversary of the bloody events in southern Kyrgyzstan at 11 o’clock in the morning on 12 June, but on way to the embassy a group of protesters that included the organisers was detained by police.
Police officers acted so roughly and tactlessly that among the 15 detainees there were five passers-by, including a pregnant woman.
Uznews.net