The United States has expressed its concern over the Uzbek Supreme Court’s ruling to close the office of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) in Uzbekistan, Mark Toner, a deputy spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, said.
“The United States is concerned by the Uzbek Supreme Court’s decision to close the Human Rights Watch Office in Tashkent,” Toner said in a statement.
“International NGOs such as Human Rights Watch have an important function to play around the world, and we regret that Human Rights Watch will not be able to do so in Uzbekistan,” he added.
The New York based non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch often criticizes former Soviet republics for the lack of democracy and abuse of human rights.