November 2005
14
 The 15 defendants in the Supreme Court Andijan trial are sentenced to prison terms ranging from 14 to 20 years.
14
 The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights issues a statement expressing regret about the Uzbek authorities’ refusal to cooperate with her office and says the Supreme Court trial is “marred by allegations of irregularities,” prompting “serious questions about its fairness.”
14
 The E.U. publishes the initial list of names of 12 high-ranking Uzbek government officials subject to the visa ban. Minister of Internal Affairs Zokir Almatov, number one on this list, subsequently travels to Germany for medical treatment.
22 Nov
—5 Dec		 Four closed trials related to Andijan, with 58 defendants, are held in Syrdario, Yangier, Upper Chirchik and Middle Chirchik.
end Nov
 Kazakh authorities forcibly return 16 persons who fled religious persecution in Uzbekistan, in violation of the absolute prohibition on sending anyone to a place where he or she faces the risk of torture. Kazakh authorities do not acknowledge that the men were detained in Kazakhstan.

 

December2006
12
 Uzbek victims of torture and survivors of the May 13 massacre file a case invoking Germany’s universal jurisdiction laws and calling for the prosecution of Almatov. He leaves Germany soon thereafter.
12
 Uzbek government forces the closure of the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty bureau in Tashkent.
14-22
 A new round of closed trials related to Andijan are held, involving a total of 78 defendants.
14-18
 Ten Andijan police officers, two prison medics, five prison employees and 19 soldiers are put on trial for dereliction of duty before and during the Andijan events.
18
 Nodira Khidoiatova, coordinator of the opposition Sunshine Coalition, is arrested on charges of extortion, embezzlement, and theft.
20
 Nosim Isakov, active with the Jizzakh branch of the Human Rights Organization of Uzbekistan, is sentenced to eight years in prison for extortion and “hooliganism.”
end Dec
 The German government announces 119 million in direct assistance to the Uzbek government for technical assistance, professional education, and the financial sector, thereby undermining the E.U.’s partial trade suspension.

Portraits of human rights defenders from Uzbekistan.