• The Ministry of National Security brought threat of terrorism charges against an editor-in-chief of two newspapers. The man was tried and sentenced to 8 1/2 years in prison. The decision was upheld upon appeal.66 Arbitrary detentions • The head of a human rights group was arrested when he sought access to case files with respect to a claim of slander that was filed against him by a private citizen. The claim was filed in response to a newspaper article the human rights activist had written criticizing a maternity hospital. Since the complaint was lodged, a series of procedural irregularities have reportedly taken place. Since his arrest, he has been kept incommunicado, and his whereabouts were unknown at the time of writing.67 • A member of a human rights group went to a local department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in his town in order to obtain permission to travel to a neighbouring country and did not return home. His relatives later discovered that he had been arrested for hooliganism and sentenced to 15 days in prison.68 Arrests and fines • Several defenders taking part in a peaceful demonstration over election irregularities were arrested by police on the grounds that they were violating laws on freedom of assembly and public order. Several of them were injured in the process. Some of them were sentenced to five to seven days’ imprisonment, while others were fined.69 • Two defenders and 10 journalists were arrested while attending a demonstration to protest repression and corruption on the part of the government. The demonstration was dispersed by the police, who reportedly surrounded the protesters in armoured vehicles and fired their guns into the air.70 • The head of a regional branch of a human rights group was arrested on charges of resisting arrest and attacking a police officer after he had spoken to a resident who had asked him for help regarding his detention. The defender was found guilty of resisting an order and interfering in a criminal investigation. He was fined and released.71 66 Case of Eynulla Fatullayev (Azerbaijan). Information provided by the OSCE Office in Baku, 14 May 2008. 67 Case of Sobir Tulaganov (Uzbekistan), Urgent Appeal, Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 26 September 2007; Human Rights Council, op. cit., note 34, para. 1976. 68 Case of Hurram Berdiev (Uzbekistan), Human Rights Council, op. cit., note 34, para. 1979. 69 Case of Tolekan Ismailova and other human rights defenders (on 18 December 2007) and 33 other human rights defenders (on 20 December 2007) (Kyrgyzstan), “Arbitrary detention and subsequent sentencing of eight human rights defenders”, Observatory FIDH/OMCT, 16 January 2008. 70 Case of Ekaterina Sokiryanskaya and Timur Akiyev (Russian Federation), “Arrest of human rights defenders and journalists following demonstration in Nazran”, Front Line, 27 January 2008. The government of the Russian Federation noted that there was a violation of public order during the unsanctioned meeting; 48 individuals were briefly detained, including Ms. Sokiryanskaya and Mr. Akiyev. The relevant prosecutor’s office opened a criminal case into the group violation of public order, and the investigation is ongoing. 71 Case of Tursunbai Utamuradov (Uzbekistan). Information provided by Human Rights Watch, 15 May 2008. 18