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The NGOs across the world have launched the campaign in order to protect Maxim Popov, sentenced to seven years of jail and two years of limited rights by the Chilanzar district court of Tashkent (Uzbekistan).

The international campaign in protection of Maxim Popov gives some hope that Maxim will be "released", as it was the case of Umida Niyazova, Sanjar Umarov and Umida Akhmedova. Perhaps, the activists in Uzbekistan, finally seeing the support from international community, will start doing normal and right things and the republic, step-by-step covered by poverty and ignorance, will escape humanitarian disaster.

The World Alliance for Citizen Participation (CIVICUS) also joined international campaign on Popov’s protection and recommended the following actions to be undertaken:

- Sign the Open Letter Calling On International Agencies To Support Amnesty For Maxim Popov

- Write a letter to President of Uzbekistan, H.E. President Islam Karimov [download letter, fill date and your name and email to: presidents_office@press-service.uz This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ]

- Write a letter to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights

Ferghana.Ru provides the translation of the letter, recommended by CIVICUS to address to the President of Uzbekistan:

To: H.E President Islam Karimov

President of Uzbekistan

Your Excellency,

I write to express my extreme concern about the unfair trial and sentencing of Mr. Maxim Popov, psychologist, HIV/AIDs activist, and founder of NGO Izis, to seven years imprisonment for selflessly serving the people of Uzbekistan to educate them about prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and promotion of healthy lifestyles.

I believe that the charges against Maxim Popov, including "promoting homosexuality", "corrupting minors in anti-social behavior" and “embezzlement” of funds received from international donors were politically motivated and contradictory to national and international law. To date, none of the charges relating to embezzlement have been confirmed by the international donors themselves, and no such allegations of misuse of funds have been made against Popov earlier in relation to his work.

Further, his book on HIV/AIDS, which primarily explains STD prevention, was deemed "illegal" by the criminal court of Tashkent, finding it as “disrespectful of the national culture and the Uzbek People.” This verdict, denying Popov his fundamental rights to freedom of expression, is in breach of not only national constitutional guarantees, but also Uzbekistan’s commitments under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Maxim Popov is one tragic case, but I know that arbitrary detention is widespread and ongoing in your country. I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Popov and all other individuals unjustly imprisoned and denied their basic human rights to peaceful expression, association and assembly.

Sincerely,

Name, Country, Organization (if applicable)

More information: Ferghana.ru