Keep the memory of Alisher Saipov alive!

Kalle — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:36:59 +0000

Dear friends and colleagues,
Tomorrow is the first anniversary of Alisher Saipov’s murder. It was the early evening of October 24, 2007 when Alisher was was shot dead by two gunmen on the street outside his office in his home of Osh, Kyrgyzstan.

Although only 26 years old at the time of his murder, Alisher had established himself as perhaps the leading independent journalist in the Fergana Valley. He wrote for a range of foreign publications and produced radio broadcasts for Voice of America.

In spring 2007 Alisher began publishing an Uzbek-language weekly newspaper called Siyosat, which was distributed in Osh as well as at the border market at Karasu. It quickly gained a following not only in Kyrgyzstan but inside Uzbekistan as well.

Alisher’s professional ambition was to report and analyze the true circumstances of people’s lives in the Fergana Valley, not only for interested foreigners, but also for his own community. His ambitions were in conflict with a status quo which is frequently enforced with violence. Alisher knew this, but it did not stop him from doing the work that ultimately led to his murder.

Alisher’s death was a tragedy for independent journalism, and indeed for civil society, in Central Asia. Its effects are still being felt.

It was also a tragedy in a personal, human sense, and this is why I am writing to you today. Alisher left behind in Osh his wife Nazokat and his beautiful baby girl, Zulaikho Avas, who had her first birthday three months ago.

A few of us, Alisher’s friends, have decided to do what we can to fulfill at least one of his goals, which was to provide for the future of his daughter Zulaikho, and in particular to provide her with a good education.
To this end we have established the Zulaikho Avas Trust Settlement, which provides for a trust fund to be established with Alisher’s daughter as the sole beneficiary. Whatever money we are able to raise will be invested conservatively and held in trust for Zuleikho, to be paid to her when she reaches the age of 18, so that she can finance her education.

It is important to keep the memory of Alisher Saipov alive, and to push for a full and proper investigation of his murder by the Kyrgyzstan authorities. Many of Alisher’s friends and colleagues are continuing their efforts in both of these areas.

I hope you will agree that supporting the future of Alisher’s baby daughter is another worthy cause that does justice to his memory, and I hope you will consider an appropriate contribution.
Additional detailed information about the Trust Settlement, and instructions on how to contribute, can be found here.

Best Regards,

Shahida Ruseckas
Director, Uzbekistan Initiative London
(UK company registration number 05773106)

Alisher Saipov's friends

Keep the memory of Alisher Saipov alive!