Joint Urgent Appeal: International Protection for Azimy Ruziboy Oğlu

Ўзбекистон «Бирлик» халқ ҳаракати партияси ва Швециядаги Association Central Asia жамияти журналист ва ёзувчи Азимий Рўзибой ўғлининг ҳуқуқий аҳволи юзасидан халқаро ташкилотлар ва Туркиянинг ваколатли органларига қўшма мурожаат билан чиқмоқда.

Мурожаатда унинг фуқаролик мақоми, ҳаракатланиш эркинлигига қўйилган чекловлар ва халқаро ҳимояга бўлган эҳтиёжини зудлик билан кўриб чиқиш сўралмоқда.

1. Victim Profile and Background

Full Name: Azimy Ruziboy Oğlu
Date and Place of Birth: 28 October 1971, Chornak Village, Turkestan District, Turkestan Region
Education: Tashkent State University named after Mirzo Ulugbek, Faculty of Uzbek Philology (1992–1997)
Profession: Journalist, writer, translator
Family Status: Married; father of three children (one son and two daughters)
Current Legal Status: Stateless, according to the information and documentation provided concerning his case.

Azimy Ruziboy Oğlu is a journalist, writer, translator, and intellectual from Turkestan who has reportedly experienced prolonged political pressure and serious human rights violations because of his professional and political activities.

2. Professional Career and Alleged Persecution

Mr. Ruziboy Oğlu has an extensive professional background in journalism, publishing, translation, and education.

He worked as a correspondent and editor for Uzbek-language publications, including Vatanparvar, Inson va Qonun, Turkestan, and Mulkdor. He also translated 12 textbooks into Uzbek for Uzbek-language schools in Kazakhstan and edited more than 50 educational publications.

Throughout his professional career, he has reportedly authored approximately 500 printed articles and more than 100 online publications.

According to the information provided regarding his case:

Between 2002 and 2009, he was repeatedly detained by Uzbekistan’s National Security Service (MHH) on what he describes as unfounded charges.
During this period, continuing state pressure allegedly prevented him from freely exercising his profession and substantially interfered with his right to work.
In 2009–2010, he was reportedly dismissed from his journalistic position following the publication of critical articles.
He subsequently alleges that he was physically assaulted and forcibly placed in a psychiatric hospital.
Since February 2012, Mr. Ruziboy Oğlu has reportedly served as a Board Member of the Birdamlik People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

These circumstances raise serious concerns regarding possible persecution on political and journalistic grounds and require independent examination by competent international human rights mechanisms.

3. Current Situation in Türkiye

Administrative Detention

After arriving in Türkiye and seeking protection, Mr. Ruziboy Oğlu was reportedly subjected to prolonged administrative detention and significant restrictions on his freedom of movement.

According to the information provided, he spent approximately one year in removal centres in Türkiye:

Edirne Removal Centre: approximately 10 months.
Istanbul Çatalca/Binkılıç Removal Centre: approximately 24 days.
Erzurum Aşkale Removal Centre: approximately 40 days.

The prolonged nature of this detention raises concerns regarding its necessity, proportionality, and compatibility with Türkiye’s obligations under applicable international human rights and refugee law.

Judicial Control and Electronic Monitoring

Following his release from administrative detention, Mr. Ruziboy Oğlu was reportedly placed under judicial control and subjected to electronic ankle monitoring.

The continuation of electronic monitoring significantly restricts his freedom of movement and, given his reported statelessness and asylum-seeking situation, raises questions concerning the necessity and proportionality of the measure.

We therefore respectfully request that the competent authorities urgently review whether the electronic monitoring measure remains necessary and proportionate and, if not, terminate it.

Statelessness and Lack of Travel Documents

Mr. Ruziboy Oğlu’s documentation reportedly identifies him as “Stateless.”

He is therefore reportedly unable to rely upon effective diplomatic protection from a State or obtain an ordinary national passport. The absence of effective nationality and appropriate travel documentation has severely restricted his ability to travel internationally and exercise his fundamental rights.

His situation requires an effective determination of his legal status and access to appropriate international protection mechanisms.

4. International Human Rights Concerns

The circumstances described above raise concerns under several fundamental principles of international human rights and refugee law, including:

The right to liberty and security of person;
Protection against arbitrary or disproportionate detention;
Freedom of movement;
The right to seek and enjoy asylum;
Protection of refugees and stateless persons;
The principle of non-refoulement;
The right to an effective remedy and due process.

We emphasize that any assessment of Mr. Ruziboy Oğlu’s status and protection needs should be conducted through an individualized, fair, transparent, and independent procedure.

5. Urgent Requests for Intervention

We respectfully call upon the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), relevant UN Special Procedures, international human rights organizations, and competent Turkish authorities to urgently examine this case.

We specifically request:

1. Immediate Review and Termination of Electronic Monitoring, if No Longer Necessary or Proportionate

The continued use of an electronic ankle monitor should be urgently reassessed in light of his individual circumstances, reported statelessness, and need for international protection.

2. Effective Determination of His Statelessness and Protection Status

We request that the relevant authorities and UNHCR examine his nationality and protection status and ensure that he has effective access to procedures applicable to stateless persons and persons seeking international protection.

3. Access to Appropriate Travel Documentation

Where legally applicable, we request assistance in obtaining an appropriate identity or travel document that would enable him to exercise his rights and resolve the practical consequences of his reported statelessness.

4. Full Protection Against Refoulement

Mr. Ruziboy Oğlu must not be forcibly returned to a country where he would face a real risk of persecution, torture, ill-treatment, arbitrary detention, or other serious human rights violations. The principle of non-refoulement must be fully respected.

5. Independent Examination of the Allegations of Past Persecution and Torture

We request that the allegations concerning detention, physical assault, forced psychiatric hospitalization, and political persecution in Uzbekistan be independently assessed by competent human rights mechanisms.

6. Access to Legal Assistance and an Effective Remedy

He should have meaningful access to legal counsel, interpretation where necessary, relevant case files, and effective procedures through which he can challenge restrictions affecting his liberty and fundamental rights.

6. Conclusion

The case of Azimy Ruziboy Oğlu requires urgent humanitarian and human rights attention.

A journalist and writer who alleges a history of political persecution and reportedly faces statelessness should not be left in a prolonged state of legal uncertainty, without effective nationality, adequate travel documentation, or access to appropriate international protection.

We therefore respectfully urge the relevant United Nations bodies, international human rights organizations, diplomatic missions, and Turkish authorities to urgently review his case, assess his protection needs, ensure respect for non-refoulement, and take all necessary measures to safeguard his fundamental rights and human dignity.

We request that this appeal be treated as urgent given the potential consequences for his liberty, personal security, freedom of movement, and protection against forced return.

Pulat Ahunov
Leader, Birlik People’s Movement Party of Uzbekistan
Chairman, Association Central Asia