Prominent Uzbek Activist Sentenced For Human Trafficking

BUKHARA, Uzbekistan -- Prominent Uzbek human rights activist Bobomurod Razzoqov has been sentenced to four years in jail.

Razzoqov's brother told RFE/RL's Uzbek Service that the 60-year-old chairman of the Bukhara regional branch of the Ezgulik (Compassion) human rights group was found guilty at a closed trial of human trafficking and sentenced on September 24.

Razzoqov was detained in July and went on trial last month.

Human Rights Watch issued a statement earlier this month calling the charges against Razzoqov "retaliation" by Uzbek authorities for his human rights work.

Razzoqov is known for his efforts to raise awareness of the use of children for cotton harvesting in his native Bukhara region in Uzbekistan’s southwest.

Ezgulik is the only officially registered human rights group in Uzbekistan.