Media Advisory

11 October 2001

AI Index EUR 04/001/2001 - News Service Nr. 180

Commonwealth of Independent States:

Central Asia: On the brink of a human rights crisis

Amnesty International is today releasing a report entitled Central Asia: No excuse for escalating human rights violations, in which it warns the international community of a possible deterioration in the human rights situation as governments use the 'war against terrorism' as an excuse to further undermine respect for human rights.

The report covers the situation in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and looks into the implications of pressure on these countries by the Chinese government.

The organization has also produced background briefings on Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. These briefings highlight Amnesty International's concerns on human rights in those countries.

The report Central Asia: No excuse for escalating human rights violations and the country briefings are available on request and from

http://www.web.amnesty.org/mavp/av.nsf/pages/USA_press_page.

\ENDS

public document

****************************************

For more information, to get copies of the report and briefings, or to arrange an interview please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566.

Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW web : http://www.amnesty.org