Azam Farmonov

Prisoners of conscience, Azam Farmonov and Alisher Karamatov are members of the independent _Human Rights Societyof Uzbekistan_ (HRSU). They were detained on 29 April 2006 as they defended the rights of local farmers who had accused some district farming officials of malpractice, extortion and corruption. The two men were allegedly tortured,charged with extortion, subjected to an unfair trial where they had neither a defence lawyer nor any other legal representative and then sentenced to nine years imprisonment.Update: 20.4.12: On 12 April 2012, after almost six years in prison, Alisher Karamatov was released early most likely because of deteriorating health. Azam Farmonov remains in prisons.