Atamatov, Shamsuddin
Who, Why and How exiled: Atamatov was one of the businessmen charged with being members of the group known as Akramia, which the Uzbek authorities had labeled an extremist group (Amnesty International, 2005).
Stage 2 details (arrest/ detention/ extradition): In early 2005, he was charged along with 22 other men on a number of charges including “organisation of a criminal conspiracy, attempt to overthrow the constitutional order, membership of a illegal religious organisation and the possession or distribution of literature containing a threat to public safety”, which the 23 accused denied (Amnesty International, 2005) On 13 May, an armed group broke into the prison, freeing the businessmen and other prisoners before mobilising people to attend a protest on the city's main square. He escaped from prison on 13 May, and was a witness to the massacre which followed (Chatham House, 2010).
Legal status (refugee/ asylum seeker/ resident): Exiled in Germany and Chairman of "Andijon-Adolat va Tiklanish" e.V. (OSCE, 2011).
Current status: Currently in Germany.
Press sources: Amnesty International. (2005). Europe and Central Asia: Summary of Amnesty International's Concerns in the Region: January- June 2005.Available: https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/84000/eur010122005en.pdf. Last accessed 18th April 2018. Chatham House, 2010. "Through the Looking Glass: The Andijan Massacre". [Online].Available at: https://www.chathamhouse.org/events/view/156897 [Accessed: 22 may 2018]. OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (2011). Provisional list of participants. [Online].Available at: https://www.osce.org/odihr/82931?download=true [Accessed: 22 may 2018].