59.The case of Ms. Elena Urlaeva, of the Human Rights Alliance of Uzbekistan, an independent labour monitor who documents the practice of forced labour in the cotton industry, was included in the 2017 report of the Secretary-General (see A/HRC/36/31, para. 61 Annex,para. 86-87).On 1 March 2017, Ms. Urlaeva was arrested in Tashkent and taken to a police station,the day before she was due to meet representatives of theILOand the World Bank on 2 March 2017.She had filed a complaint with the International Finance Corporation’s Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO) regarding World Bank investments.At the police station, Ms. Urlaeva was insulted and mocked by police officers who told her that she needed psychiatric treatment. She was then forcibly transferred to a psychiatric facility in Tashkent.On 24 March 2017, Ms. Urlaeva was released after 24 days of psychiatric detention. 60.On 5 April 2017 four special procedures mandate holders raised concerns about these incidents, which they noted appear to be related to her cooperation with international organizations (UZB 1/2017). On 28 April 2017 the Government responded, stating that according to a 2006 ruling of the Miabad Interregional Civil Court in Tashkent, Ms. Urlaeva suffers from mental illness and is legally incompetent. On 27 October 2017 the Government further responded to the mention of this case in the 2017report of the Secretary-General, reiterating that no illegal actions by law enforcement were taken against Ms. Urlaeva, and that the Government maintains a cooperative relationship with the ILO. 61.It has subsequently been alleged that police and other authorities in several regions arbitrarily detained, interfered with and obstructed the work of both Ms. Urlaeva and Ms.Malohat Eshonkulova, an independent journalist and human rights activist who also signed the complaint to the Ombudsman, because they openly monitor work based upon forced labor.On 12 September 2017, police in Yaipan, a district of the Fergana region, detained Ms.Urlaeva at the police station where they confiscated her notebook, three mobile phones, camera, and a recording device. When Ms. Eshonkulova came to the station to demand Ms.Urlaeva’s release, she was also detained. Both were released several hours later. Police in Buka detained Ms. Urlaeva again on 6 October 2017.On 15 October 2017, police in Pastdargam district, in the Samarkand region, detained Ms. Urlaeva and Ms. Eshonkulova for six hours.They were taken to the police station where they were interrogated and had their belongings confiscated, including notebooks, mobile phones, and camera flash card.In November 2017, is also alleged that police raided Ms. Eshonkulova’s home and confiscated several of her belongings in a nearly 11-hour search for her computer and cell phone.

134. The case of Ms. Elena Urlaeva, 91 of the Human Rights Defenders Alliance of Uzbekistan, was included in the 2018 and 2017 reports of the Secretary-General (A/HRC/39/41, Annex II, paras 59–61; A/HRC/36/31, Annex I, paras. 88–89) on allegations of arrest and forced confinement in a psychiatric hospital to prevent her from engaging with the ILO (UZB 1/2017). 92
135. On 28 November 2019, the Committee against Torture, in its concluding observations on the fifth periodic report of Uzbekistan, noted with concern the allegations received that human rights defenders and journalists are being involuntarily committed to psychiatric hospitals in order to prevent them from conducting their work, and referred to the case of Ms. Urlaeva (CAT/C/UZB/CO/5, para. 17). OHCHR received reports that, on 5 November 2019, Ms. Urlaeva and a co-worker were forcibly arrested in Chirchik Hakimiat during a cotton harvesting monitoring activity that was part of a joint project with the ILO. On 12 November 2019, the Administrative Court of Chirchik city ruled that both individuals had committed administrative offences under Article 183 “Hooliganism” and Article 194 “Disobedience to Police Officers” of the Code on Administrative Responsibility, and they were both fined. Ms. Urlaeva and her co-worker could not attend the trial as they reportedly received the notification on 19 November 2019.
136. On 22 June 2020, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report, indicating that Ms. Urlaeva was not in the list of participants of the video conference of 5 November 2019 in Chirchik city Administration but she tried to force her way into the premises ignoring the requests of the Administration employees. The Administrative Court of Chirchik city notified Ms. Urlaeva about the time and location of the hearing, however, due to her absence without reason and no requests for postponement, the trial was held in absentia, and she was accused on 24 January 2020 of committing an administrative offence. Following Ms. Urlaeva’s appeal, the Tashkent Regional Administrative Court reviewed the case and cancelled the decision, returning the case to the Chirchik city Administration for an additional inquiry. The Government stated that Ms. Urlaeva is registered since 2001 in Tashkent Psychiatric Hospital No. 2 with a mental health condition, and since 2006 is legally incapacitated by decision of the Mirabad Interdistrict Civil Court. Taking into account Article 20 of the Code of Administrative Responsibility, on 10 March 2020 a decision was made to terminate administrative proceedings against Ms. Urlaeva.