E/CN.4/2003/68/Add.2 page 41 investigation period, Ulugbek Eshov was severely beaten and ill-treated by three investigators. In particular, his clothes were allegedly ripped off and he was kicked and beaten on the head and abdomen, chlorine was allegedly used to make his breathing difficult, and he was eventually forced to sign a confession. According to the information received, during the trial he could not stand or walk. He reportedly pleaded innocent and informed the judge that he had been forced to sign the confession because of the treatment he had been subjected to. It is reported that he was eventually sentenced to death and transferred to the Tashturma. His mother last saw him in August 2001. Since then, subsequent requests to visit Ulugbek Eshov have reportedly been denied to his relatives. Fears have been expressed that he may have been executed. His relatives are nevertheless said not to have received any death certificate. Shukrat Erdanov, born in 1972, was reportedly arrested by SNB officers in the Samarkant region in the Urgut district on the way to a wedding party on 5 December 1999. He was reportedly taken to the SNB regional office in Samarkand where he was allegedly given electric shocks to his genitals in the basement, whilst his hands and legs had been tied together. His mouth is said to have foamed as a result. The officers torturing him allegedly stated that as he was “a tough guy”, he would not accept guilt. He was also allegedly beaten, in particular on the head and waist. He was reportedly asked to give out the names of his friends. He and five other persons arrested at the wedding party were reportedly tried for Islamic extremism (pursuant to articles 159 and 244 of the Criminal Code) by a judge in the Samarkand region and he was reportedly sentenced to 18 years in prison in the summer of 2000. His family was reportedly only informed about his arrest in June 2002 by a representative of the court. The court is alleged to have claimed that they had informed the family by sending a letter to the MVD of the district where his family was living. After his trial, he was transferred to Katakurgan prison in the Samarkant region. In autumn 2000, he was allegedly taken to Karshi jail. In September 2002, he was reportedly severely beaten by wardens in Karshi prison and was sexually assaulted by other detainees. One of the wardens there is said to have insulted his mother, asking her whether she had prepared the death clothing for her son. On 20 October 2002, he was reportedly transferred to Jaslyk prison. According to the information received, upon arrival at the Jaslyk colony, Shukrat Erdanov was placed in a punishment cell and was deprived of food for a lengthy period of time. His brothers, Botir and Davron Erdanov, were reportedly arrested at their workplace on 3 September 2001. Davron Erdanov is said to be detained under a strict regime in Karshi prison and Botir Erdanov in Zarafshan prison, where they are said not to be receiving sufficient food. Abdulkhim Ganiev was reportedly arrested by SNB officers at home on 18 January 2000 at around 4.30 a.m. It is believed that the officers claimed that they had an arrest warrant for somebody called Abdulkaham. The officers are said to have broken into his place as his mother was refusing to open the door in the absence of any arrest warrant for Abdulkhim. According to the information received, Abdulkhim Ganiev’s hands were cuffed behind him and a rifle was put against his back. No explanation was given, except that he was accused under article 159 of the Criminal Code. It is reported that the officers, some of whom were masked, searched the house. Nothing is said to have initially been found. A SNB officer was seen planting some Hizb-ut-Tahrir leaflets. According to the information received, Abdulkhim Ganiev was allegedly denied access to his own toilets. It is alleged that his mother was threatened with death if she did not allow the SNB officers to use her son’s car. The latter was reportedly pushed into a SNB minivan where he was covered with a blanket. He was