According to BBC, journalist Umida Niyazova has had her sentence lifted because she has changed her trial plea from ‘not guilty’ to guilty, and because the judge had compassion over separating a mother from her 2-year-old boy. She recanted her association with human rights groups and others, citing ‘undue influence from her environment’.
I remain grateful for her brilliant work through discouraging conditions. Those of us who have not lived in an environment of ‘undue influence’ cannot know how difficult it has been, nor what difficulties she will continue to face. I wish all the best for her and her family.
IWPR has the story of her trial here.
BBC reported upon her release here.
Previous blog posts on Ms. Niyazova's plight can be found by searching for Umida Niyazova at right.
March 28's overview post of Uzbekistan and its relation to independent journalism is here.
Photo: insects.org
