Thomas A. Dine deplores attack against reporter and calls on the Uzbek government to fully investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this crime



"This shocking act of violence against Lobar Qaynarova underscores the fact that she, like other reporters courageous enough to practice honest journalism in a corrupt autocracy like Uzbekistan, are heroes," Dine said, "Government authorities must not try to hamper the investigation of this criminal assault, and we expect the attackers to be brought to justice." Thomas Dine, head of Radio Free Europe, served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Philippines.

Thomas A. Dine deplores attack against reporter and calls on the Uzbek government to fully investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this crime

RFE/RL Deplores Attack Against Reporter, Calls For End To Harassment In Uzbekistan

(Washington, DC -- July 5, 2005)
RFE/RL's reporter in Gulistan, Uzbekistan (120 km south of the capital Tashkent), Ms. Lobar Qaynarova, remains in the hospital with severe injuries to her face and abdomen, as well as bruises to much of her body, which she sustained during a nearly three-hour beating by attackers in the early evening of Friday, July 1, 2005.

RFE/RL, Inc. President Thomas A. Dine, deploring the attack against Qaynarova, called on the Uzbek government to fully investigate and prosecute the perpetrators of this crime. "This shocking act of violence against Lobar Qaynarova underscores the fact that she, like other reporters courageous enough to practice honest journalism in a corrupt autocracy like Uzbekistan, are heroes," Dine said, "Government authorities must not try to hamper the investigation of this criminal assault, and we expect the attackers to be brought to justice."

Qaynarova was attacked by a man and two women inside the stairwell of her apartment upon returning from covering a local trial of youths charged with theft. The attackers continued to beat her while dragging her out of her apartment building and pushing her into a waiting "Moskvich" van, where they continued to beat her while driving around from approximately 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm local time. The assailants threw her out of the van with her clothing and purse in front of her home, but kept her recording equipment and disks of the trial proceedings.

Qaynarova has told local police who questioned her at the hospital that she recognized one of her attackers as the ex-wife of her husband. Local police today found Qaynarova's recorder, but not the discs, and say they "are learning" the case. There appears to be no criminal investigation at the moment.

Yesterday, Svetlana Artykova, the spokesperson for Uzbek Prosecutor General Rashid Kadirov in Tashkent, denied that Qaynorova had been severely injured and falsely reported that Qaynorova had not been hospitalized.

In recent weeks, Qaynarova had been interviewing human rights activists throughout the Syrdarya and Jizzah regions who have reported coming under intense government harassment. Before the Friday attack, she had been recently threatened several times by phone for "putting her nose into politics." Gulistan is the capital of Syrdarya region.

This is the second time in the last week that RFE/RL journalists in Uzbekistan have been harassed. Police arrested Gafur Yuldashev, RFE/RL's reporter in Andijan, on June 26, 2005 and interrogated him for nearly four hours and confiscated his recording equipment before releasing him.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty is a private, international communications service to Eastern and Southeastern Europe, Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia, funded by the U.S. Congress through the Broadcasting Board of Governors.

When this story was posted in July 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:



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American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy Returned Volunteers met with author Philip Weiss in Baltimore on June 18 to discuss the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Deborah Gardner. Weiss was a member of a panel that included three psychiatrists and a criminal attorney. Meanwhile, the Seattle U.S. Attorney's office announced that Dennis Priven cannot be retried for the murder. "We do not believe this case can be prosecuted by anyone, not only us, but in any other jurisdiction in the United States." Read background on the case here.

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July 2, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Jim Bullington writes: Food Crisis in Niger 1 Jul Bobby Shriver helps organize Philadelphia Live 8 show 2 Jul Divinity school to start Moyers Scholar program 2 Jul Chic Dambach is President of Operation Respect 1 Jul Julian Dendy assesses Palau plant and insect diversity 1 Jul George Packer writes “The Home Front” about Iraq 1 Jul Mike Honda works to preserve WWII internment camps 1 Jul Jim Walsh supports increased benefits for veterans 1 Jul RPCVs discuss Peace Corps on VOA 1 Jul Jimmey Iszler brings international visitors to ND 30 Jun Chris Shays' bill prohibits anti-gay discrimination 30 Jun Mae Jemison to visit China 30 Jun Bob Taft praises Lake Erie on ‘Fish Ohio Day’ 30 Jun Jim Doyle announces Wisconsin budget surplus 30 Jun Al Kamen says Rehnquist may stay on with Nike 29 Jun Richard Celeste co-chairs report on Indo-US cooperation 29 Jun Director Vasquez in Caribbean to assess programs 29 Jun Thomas Gouttierre says militants desperate to interfere 29 Jun James Mayers teaches business in Bulgaria 28 Jun Prosecutor says Ex-coach stalling in RPCV assault 28 Jun Robert Tesh tests effects of West Nile virus 27 Jun

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June 26, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Mark Schneider says "Time running out in Haiti" 23 Jun Austin Merrill reviews the Rwandan story 26 Jun Elaine Chao named most underrated cabinet member 26 Jun Erik Martini headed to India in Foreign Service 25 Jun Franklin Williams Awards honors Community Leaders 24 Jun Trip Mackintosh's firm to represent Gitmo prisoners 24 Jun Tom Murphy applauds eminent domain decision 24 Jun DRI has furnished over $30 million in direct aid 24 Jun Doyle may receive challenge in his own party 24 Jun Dr. E. Jackson Allison joins fight against HIV/AIDS 23 Jun WTOL asks: Should Governor Bob Taft Resign? 23 Jun Donald A. Camp in Kathmandu for State Dept visit 22 Jun Al Kamen says Hyde finishing last budget 22 Jun Alice Rabson, 84, has been an activist her entire life 21 Jun Peace Corps Receives $1 Million for Tsunami efforts 21 Jun Gaddi Vasquez is no-nonsense guy 20 Jun NPCA announces Nine New Directors 20 Jun American Taboo: A Peace Corps Tragedy 20 Jun

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June 19, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Al Kamen says hard to start new agency - Charlie Peters disagrees 19 Jun Kera Carpenter opens "W Domku" restaurant in DC 19 Jun Savannah Thomas Arrigo wins Peace Corps lottery 18 Jun Mark Gearan honored for service to the community 18 Jun Chris Dodd pushes credit card legislation 18 Jun Shalala says to learn from England's Health Service 17 Jun An Interview with Tony Hall 17 Jun House committee approves only $325 Million for PC 16 Jun Sam Farr joins New “Out-of-Iraq Congressional Caucus” 16 Jun Tom Weisner proposes whistleblower protection ordinance 16 Jun Issues, Not Race, elected Phil Hardberger 16 Jun Peace Corps honors Father's Day 16 Jun Heather O'Neal fell in love with Nepal 15 Jun UPI honored for reporting on Lariam 13 Jun RPCVs announce "Haiti Innovation" 12 Jun Gary Presthus says circuitous path can lead to success 10 Jun Chris Matthews interviews Bill Moyers 10 Jun Holly Neill driven to improve water quality 9 Jun Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn marks PC's 44th anniversary 4 Jun Joy Teiken's eveningwear design will walk down runway 1 Jun Reed Hastings says competitors don’t get business model 26 May

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June 14: Peace Corps suspends Haiti program After Uzbekistan, the Peace Corps has announced the suspension of a second program this month - this time in Haiti. Background: The suspension comes after a US Embassy warning, a request from Tom Lantos' office, and the program suspension last year. For the record: PCOL supports Peace Corps' decision to suspend the two programs and commends the agency for the efficient way PCVs were evacuated safely. Our only concern now is with the placement of evacuated PCVs and the support they receive after interrupted service.

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