An investigative journalist who has reported on child exploitation in the Uzbekistan cotton industry has been arrested and is being held incommunicado.
Sergei Naumov was detained 10 days ago (21 September) ahead of this year's cotton harvest. Friends have not been able to establish his whereabouts despite extensive inquiries.
They know he was arrested because he was able to make one short mobile phone call from a police station during which he alerted colleagues to his detention.
Naumov, 50, writes articles for international media organisations about human rights issues. Colleagues believe the authorities are detaining him in order to prevent him from reporting on inhumane working conditions in the cotton fields of the Khorezm region.
Uzbekistan has been criticised for the use of forced labour (especially involving children) during cotton harvesting.
Amnesty, the human rights organisation, has called on the Uzbekistan authorities to reveal where Naumov is being held, and to either charge him with a recognisably criminal offence or release him.
It has also called on the authorities to ensure that, while in custody, Naumov has access to a lawyer.
Sources: Amnesty/IWPR
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