Other biased report was also distributed on this website on August 18, 2007 according to which during the second half of the day on August 17, 2007 in the colony of punishment execution 64/48 (CPE-48) in the city of Zarafshan (Navoi region) prisoners, who are serving their sentences allegedly for religious belief declared termless hunger-strike.

In this regard, the following is communicated.

1. Oleg Vasilevich Merkulov (born on 1972) previously in 1997 was convicted according to article 169, part 2(b), article 169, part 3 (b) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 5 years of imprisonment. According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on amnesty dated 1 December 1998 he was released from further prison service.

O.Merkulov again was arrested on 10 July 2000 by the Prosecution Office of Tashkent city and convicted on 20 October 2000 by the Court on criminal cases of Mirzo Ulugbek District of Tashkent city according to articles 97 (p.2), 164 (p.3) and 59 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 16 years of imprisonment with serving his prison in the colony with high security. According to the decision of the Tashkent city court on criminal cases dated 10 May 2002 his term of prison was decreased till 15 years of imprisonment.

In coming to remand prison and transferring to the colony of punishment execution convicted O.Merkulov was examined by the medical servants on general basis.

During his prison convicted O.Merkulov had necessary medical treatment. In every concrete case he was treated with qualified and competent medical assistance. In prison establishment 64/46 (Navoi city) upon his arrival to the colony O.Merkulov was taken to regular medical check-up by the doctor with diagnosis ?chronic bronchitis in the stage of incomplete remission, residual changes in the result of pulmonary tuberculosis?.

According to procedures O. Merkulov was sent to the therapeutic department of the Republican hospital in prison 64/18 on 22 June 2007. General condition of health of the patient was assessed by doctors as satisfactory. Patient was examined within the conditions of the clinic and his diagnosis was "chronic bronchitis in the stage of incomplete remission, residual changes in the result of pulmonary tuberculosis". In the result of the exams he was provided with all necessary stationary medical treatment and was discharged from the hospital within 10 days with a better state of health.

As condemned O.Merkulov applied to the administration of the prison 64/18 concerning inclusion him to the building brigade, his request was learned and approved. According to the order of the head of administration O.Merkulov was accepted to the building brigade under the piece-work payment conditions.

At the moment O.Merkulov feels himself well and is serving his sentence and working at the building brigade of prison 64/18 of the Head Department of punishment execution of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Maintenance conditions of the condemned are conducted under the strict rules of the penal - executive jurisdiction of the Republic of Uzbekistan and completely meet the international requirements on human rights protection and basic freedom of actions, as well as against torture and other forms of inhuman actions or debasement and punishment ratified by the Republic of Uzbekistan.

2. Facts indicated in article "Uzbekistan. Announcement of hunger-strike and prisoners manifestations of Zarafshan colony" are unjustified and do not correspond to the reality.

According to the Constitution and Laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, religious belief is private affair of every citizen and any other unions. They can profess any religion or none. Nobody is persuaded to his/her belief in Uzbekistan.

Currently, except for condemned for common criminal acts, in CPE-48 about 120 persons are serving their sentences who committed penal crimes within the religious-extremist organizations.

During the last period the facts of announcement of hunger-strike in establishments of system of punishment execution, including in CPE-48, did not take place.

In establishments of system of punishment execution the maintenance conditions of condemned persons meet the norms of the current legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Any actions directed to infringement of legitimate rights of condemned persons, from administration of CPE-48 are not supposed. Appointments of the condemned persons with their relatives and other people in CPE-48 are not cancelled. The establishment works in a usual manner.

The Uzbek side considers that distribution of the above-mentioned reports pursues the goal to provoke unreasonable criticism to the address of Uzbekistan. With this purpose some politically engaged circles use the tactics when persons accused in extremist and terrorist activity, as well as infringement on existing constitutional order, are represented as people who are suffering for their religious beliefs and exposing for it with repressions by the authorities.