E/CN.4/2003/68/Add.2 page 48 Allanazar Yusupovich Kurbanov was reportedly detained at the beginning of March 2001 at Hazarapsky police station in the region of Khorzem. It is alleged that he was beaten, in particular on the neck, that a bag was placed over his head, that he was kicked while handcuffed and that he had his fingertips burnt. It is also reported that his wife and four-month-old baby were summoned at the police station. His wife was allegedly beaten in an office next door to where he was kept so that he could hear her crying. The baby was reportedly held upside down and cold water was poured over his face. Allanazar Yusupovich Kurbanov was reportedly sentenced to death by Khorzem Regional Court on 22 August 2001. According to the information received, appeals against the death sentences were turned down by the Supreme Court on 13 December 2001. Both his relatives and his lawyer claimed that he and another detainee, Yusufbay Rustamovich Sultanov, had been forced to confess to a murder by unlawful methods. It is reported that since they were transferred to Tashkent prison in February 2002, their families have not been able to receive any news from them. Yusufbay Rustamovich Sultanov was allegedly beaten by SNB officers. He was reportedly given electroshocks and was beaten with a baton on his head. His wife saw him during the trial, which took place on 23 August 2001 at the District Court of Khorzem. He was reportedly sentenced to death. His body was allegedly covered with bruises, teeth were missing and he complained about his ribs being hurt. His parents reportedly complained to the Procurator’s office of Khorzem, to the General Procurator, to the Ombudsman, and to the President of the Republic. The authorities reportedly gave contradictory information each time the families enquired about the fate of the two prisoners. It is alleged that, while the chairman of the Khorzem Regional Court informed Allanazar Yusupovich Kurbanov’s parents that their son had already been executed, the registration office claimed that there was no confirmation about his death. Refat Tulyaganov was reportedly sentenced to death by the Taskhent City Court for premeditated murder under article 97 of the Criminal Code on 5 July 2001. There was said to be evidence that he had acted in self-defence and that the court neglected this fact. His mother is said to have seen the procurator and reportedly offered him US$ 200, as she knew that a conviction pursuant to article 97 could lead to the imposition of the death penalty. His mother reportedly turned to the ombudsman for help, who stated that she would be monitoring the case. Refat Tulyaganov was said to have been severely beaten and coerced to confess while in pre-trial detention. The Taskhent City Court Appeals Committee and the Supreme Court upheld the initial death sentence on 21 August and 4 October 2001, respectively. On 18 January 2002, he was reportedly executed in secret, despite a request by the United Nations Human Rights Committee made on 24 December 2001 to suspend the execution until it had pronounced on the merits of the case. His family was said not to have been informed about the date of the execution, and when his mother asked to see him on 24 January 2002, prison personnel reportedly sent her back and told her that she should return the next day. On 12 February the family received an official certificate informing them of the execution date. When his mother went to see the Ombudsman with the official certificate, the latter reportedly told her that it was not possible that her son had been executed as she had been monitoring the case. She reportedly stated that she did not know what to do in the case.