As we informed earlier, the chairman of the «Erk» democratic party Samad Murodov, the vice-chairmen of «Birlik» Party Pulat Okhun, Daynov Tashanov and Hamdam Sulaymonov, the chairman of the party’s Syrdarya regional organization Isroil Rizaev, and human rights and «Birlik» Party activist Anvar Karimov had a meeting in Swedish parliament. Then they visited the Sweden Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The meeting took place as a round table conversation with the following Swedish participants: Swedish Ambassador in Uzbekistan Hans Olsson, the head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asian Departments of the Ministry Mrs. Malina Mold , the chief specialist of the Human Rights department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Henry Berkust , the representative of Sweden on political relationship with Russia and Central Asia David Stamp.
The first part of the conversation was related to the «Birlik» and the «Erk» parties’ activity in Uzbekistan. The hosts were interested in status of opposition parties, financial situation, the level of authority that they enjoyed within the voters and the relationship with the current government in Uzbekistan.
As it became known during the conversation, the members of Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs constantly analyze the social-political situation in Uzbekistan. That is why they were interested in common objectives, but did not limit themselves with common questions as they were interested in detailed pictures.
Swedish Ambassador in Uzbekistan Mr. Hans Olsson and the head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asian Departments of the Ministry Mrs. Malina Mold expressed their understanding on the difficulties of holding meetings in authoritarian regime environment and questioned the guests on how they handle these issues.
After the coffee break, the chief specialist of the Human Rights department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Henry Berkust and the guests exchanged their thoughts about:
— the level of affect of the Uzbekistan law in social-legal environment,
— the corruption in the low-enforcements bodies of the government of Uzbekistan,
— the made-to-order orders and sentences,
— the attitude to the detainees and prisoners,
— the torture used against detainees and prisoners.
Towards the end of the meeting, the participants decide to intensify the communication and constantly exchange information.