Statement Re: The Government of Uzbekistan’s Decision to Institute Proceedings to Remove ABA-CEELI’s Registration as a Foreign Organization Operating in Uzbekistan
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 28, 2006 – The American Bar Association is deeply disappointed with the decision of the government of Uzbekistan to institute proceedings to remove ABA-CEELI’s registration as a foreign organization operating in Uzbekistan.
The ABA’s Central European and Eurasian Law Initiative learned on April 25, 2006, the Uzbekistan government had instituted proceedings to remove ABA-CEELI’s registration as a foreign organization operating in Uzbekistan. On April 26 and 27 an expedited court hearing concluded with an order for the closure of ABA-CEELI in Uzbekistan. A timely appeal is under consideration. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the proceedings will bar ABA-CEELI from maintaining an office and operations in Uzbekistan.
“The citizens and government of Uzbekistan all benefit when the rule of law flourishes in their country. To force the American Bar Association to end its programs, which have sought to empower Uzbekistan to strengthen its laws and raise the capacity of its legal institutions and legal professionals, is a great disservice for this country and the entire region,” said ABA president Michael S. Greco.
The action against ABA-CEELI follows similar proceedings in recent months against other foreign and international development assistance, human rights and humanitarian organizations, resulting in the departure of a number of such groups from Uzbekistan. At the same time, the government of Uzbekistan is also aggressively curtailing the activities of domestic civil society organizations.
ABA-CEELI is a public service project designed to promote the rule of law globally through the provision of technical legal assistance. ABA-CEELI has worked with the people of Uzbekistan, including the government, for more than a decade to provide training and technical assistance to help the country build its legal system by strengthening Uzbek laws, legal institutions, law faculties and legal professionals.
The American Bar Association is an independent, non-governmental professional association. ABA-CEELI in Uzbekistan has operated under the Bilateral Agreement of 1994 between the United States and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan with funding support from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
