An Uzbek-born Russian citizen, Sanjarbek Satvaldiev, is on trial in the Uzbek city of Andijan, accused of links to the international terrorist organizations, including Al Qaeda, the Uzbek Uznews.net news website reported Tuesday.
Satvaldiev, who was granted Russian citizenship in 2007, was arrested in 2010 in Moscow on six charges, including terrorism, sabotage, illegal travel, document forgery, the organization of a criminal gang and contacts with extremist organizations, Uzbek media reported.
He is suspected of liaising with banned religious organizations, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Islamic Jihad, Nursi and Al Qaeda, as well as maintaining contacts with Muhammad Salikh, the exiled head of a Muslim socialist party ERK.
If found guilty, Satvaldiev may face up to 20 years in jail.
Surat Ikramov of the Group of Independent Human Rights Activists of Uzbekistan (IGNPU) said Satvaldiev's confession was taken under torture.
“All the indictments are contrived and somewhat theoretical, there are no facts, there's no proof and there are no witnesses to testify to the charges that have been brought,” Uznews.net quoted Ikramov as saying.
Ikramov said the case was orchestrated by the Uzbek security services that “feel well at ease in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan.”
