Ozoda Rafikova, a physician and mother of four, was to speak at a joint briefing on Friday, April 4 with the U.N. Special Rapporteur on torture to discuss his recent report about torture in Uzbekistan. She was last seen on April 2 going through passport control at Sheremetevo I airport in Moscow, where she was to subsequently transfer for a flight to Geneva. She never arrived in Geneva and all efforts to locate her in Moscow have been unsuccessful.
“We urge all relevant authorities to do everything in their power to find Dr. Ozoda and ensure her safety,” said Elizabeth Andersen, executive director of Human Rights Watch’s Europe and Central Asia division.
Human Rights Watch has worked with Dr. Ozoda for more than a year on torture-related issues, and is also participating in the briefing.
Dr. Ozoda was to give first-hand testimony about torture in Uzbekistan. She is the mother of a torture victim currently in Jaslyk Prison, Uzbekistan’s notorious facility for those arrested on charges of “religious extremism.”
“All governments have a duty to take all possible measures to cooperate with and protect witnesses who are prepared to testify with U.N. special rapporteurs and other U.N. human rights mechanisms,” said Andersen. “We ask that all relevant authorities do so as a matter of urgent priority.”
