Uzbek journalist and human rights activist Ruslan Sharipov has obtained political asylum in the United States and is now with members of his family in California.
Sharipov fled Uzbekistan on his way to a work camp after receiving a two-year community service sentence this past June. He had originally been given a four-year prison sentence on appeal in September 2003. To read more about Ruslan’s case, click here.
Ruslan Sharipov’s journalistic work in Uzbekistan focused on human rights violations of the Uzbek government. He was a correspondent for the Russian press agency, Prima, and president of the Independent Journalists Association of Uzbekistan. He plans to continue his human rights activism from California.