CAT/C/UZB/CO/4 As a matter of urgency, the State party should: (a) Carry out prompt, impartial and effective investigations into all allegations of torture and ill-treatment and prosecute and punish all those responsible, including law enforcement and prison officials. The Committee reiterates its recommendations that the State party should apply a zero-tolerance approach to the continuing problem of torture and to the practice of impunity; (b) Ensure that high level officials in the executive branch publicly and unambiguously condemn torture in all its forms, directing this especially to police and prison staff; (c) Warn that any person committing such acts, or otherwise complicit or participating in torture will be held personally responsible before the law for these acts and subject to severe criminal penalties. Harassment, arbitrary imprisonment and alleged torture of human rights defenders 8. The Committee is deeply concerned by numerous and consistent reports of the arbitrary imprisonment of human rights defenders and journalists in retaliation for their work. The Committee is particularly concerned by allegations that numerous human rights defenders that have been deprived of their liberty have been subjected to torture and other ill-treatment, including: Gaibullo Djalilov, Rasul Khudoynazarov, Azam Formonov, Mehrinisso and Zulhumor Hamdamova, Nosim Isakov, Yuldash Rasulov, Zafarjon Rahimov, Akzam Turgunov and Gulnaza Yuldasheva and journalist Muhammad Bekjanov. The Committee is also concerned by the apparent failure of the State party authorities to investigate effectively allegations that other human rights defenders, have been arbitrarily imprisoned or otherwise harassed in retaliation for their work, including but not limited to Bobomurod Razzakov, Solijon Abdurakhmanov, Isroiljon Holdarov, Turaboi Juraboev, Ganihon Mamatkhanov, Dilmurod Saidov, Nematjon Siddikov and Elena Urlayeva. The Committee regrets the State party’s insistence to the Committee that the above-mentioned allegations are “unfounded”, despite the existing corroboration. It is further concerned that full, independent and effective investigations of the allegations and prosecution of the perpetrators have not taken place (arts. 4, 12, 13 and 16). The Committee recommends that the State party should: (a) Recognize that human rights defenders are at risk and have been targeted for reprisals due to the performance of their human rights activities, which play an important role in a democratic society; (b) Take all necessary measures to ensure that all human rights defenders are able to conduct their work and activities freely and effectively; (c) Investigate promptly, thoroughly and impartially all allegations of harassment, arbitrary arrest, denial of adequate medical treatment and torture or illtreatment of human rights defenders, including those listed above, prosecute and punish appropriately those found guilty, and provide the victims with redress; (d) Release from detention human rights defenders who are imprisoned and in detention in retaliation for their human rights work. Investigation and prosecution of acts of torture and ill-treatment 9. The Committee is deeply concerned at the failure of the authorities to carry out prompt, effective and independent investigations into allegations of torture and ill-treatment by public officials, including in the cases of Erkin Musaev, Batyrbek Eshkuziev, Bahrom Ibragimov, Davron Kabilov, Ravshanbek Vafoev, Ruhiddin Fahrutdinov, Gayrat 3