By empty (1/7/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

The U.S.-based NGO Freedom House has asked the Uzbek government to put together a group that includes human rights defenders to review the case of a prisoner alleged to have died under torture, RFE/RL\'s Uzbek Service reported on 6 January, citing Robert Freedman, the senior program officer for Freedom House\'s Uzbekistan Torture Prevention Project.

By empty (1/7/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

President Askar Akaev spoke out on 6 January in Bishkek against foreign funding for domestic political movements. Akaev said, \"We are concerned about the existence of made-to-order movements with the financial support of international organizations that specialize in organizing \'velvet\' revolutions.\" He added, \"Social movements that have emerged in this country are preparing such revolutions as ordered up by a Clandestine International.

By empty (1/6/2005 issue of the CACI Analyst)

At least 396 Chechen residents were abducted in 2004, and 175 of them are still missing, the Memorial human rights center told Interfax on Thursday. \"According to the latest reports, 396 people were abducted in Chechen territory in 2004, and 187 of them were released, 24 found killed, and 175 have gone missing. Another 10 people who were presumed to have been abducted, are currently under investigation,\" Dmitry Grushkin of Memorial said.