ALMATY, Kazakhstan — Human Rights Watch said Tuesday that it has been forced to close its office in Uzbekistan after facing years of harassment by the nation's authorities.
"With the expulsion of Human Rights Watch, the Uzbek government sends a clear message that it isn't willing to tolerate critical scrutiny of its human rights record," Human Rights Watch executive director Kenneth Roth said in a statement.
The group said it has been routinely impeded from completing its work in the country and that its researchers have been denied visas and accreditation. Human Rights Watch said its departure follows moves by the Justice Ministry this week to close its office in Tashkent.
(AP)
