[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 545 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 545

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the arrest of 
                      Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 10, 2005

 Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Ackerman, Mrs. Blackburn, and Mr. 
  Ford) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                  Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the arrest of 
                      Sanjar Umarov in Uzbekistan.

Whereas the United States supports the development of democracy, free markets, 
        and civil society in Uzbekistan and in other states in Central Asia;
Whereas the rule of law, the impartial application of the law, and equal justice 
        for all courts of law are pillars of all democratic societies;
Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly arrested in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 
        October 22, 2005;
Whereas Sanjar Umarov is a businessman and leader of the Uzbek opposition party, 
        Sunshine Coalition;
Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly taken into custody on October 22, 2005, 
        during a crackdown on the Sunshine Coalition that included a raid of its 
        offices and seizure of its records;
Whereas Sanjar Umarov was reportedly charged with grand larceny;
Whereas press accounts report that representatives of Sanjar Umarov claim that 
        Mr. Umarov was drugged and abused while at his pretrial confinement 
        center in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, but such accounts could not be 
        immediately confirmed, and official information about the health, 
        whereabouts, and treatment while in custody of Mr. Umarov has thus far 
        been unavailable;
Whereas the United States has expressed its serious concern regarding the 
        overall state of human rights in Uzbekistan and is seeking to clarify 
        the facts of this case;
Whereas the European Union (EU) and the Organization for Security and 
        Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have expressed concern about the arrest and 
        possible abuse of Sanjar Umarov; and
Whereas the Government of Uzbekistan is party to various treaty obligations, and 
        in particular those under the International Covenant on Civil and 
        Political Rights, which obligate governments to provide for due process 
        in criminal cases: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the law enforcement and judicial authorities of 
        Uzbekistan should ensure that Sanjar Umarov is accorded the 
        full measure of his rights under the Uzbekistan Constitution to 
        defend himself against any and all charges that may be brought 
        against him, in a fair and transparent process, so that 
        individual justice may be done;
            (2) the Government of Uzbekistan should observe its various 
        treaty obligations, especially those under the International 
        Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which obligate 
        governments to provide for due process in criminal cases; and
            (3) the Government of Uzbekistan should publicly clarify 
        the charges against Sanjar Umarov, his current condition, and 
        his whereabouts.
                                 <all>