Birdamlik, People's Democratic Movement is a political organisation based in Uzbekistan.
Contents
Beginning of activity
April 10, 2004 Bakhodir Choriyev founded the "Movement" Birdamlik "and later renamed it. Organization got the name - "People's Democratic Movement "Birdamlik".Organization passed official registration in the United States, Norway, Sweden, and it also operates in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, including the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan.
Failure of the organization
Bakhodir Khan Turkistan tried to organize protests, because of this May 21, 2004, he was attacked and beaten. Police representatives put a bag over his head, tied his hands and feet. He was stolen and taken away in an unknown direction. He was thrown in the territory abandoned on a river bank of Chirchik in the Tashkent region. He was naked. The same day, they burned his car.
Protests
Bakhodir Khan Turkistan organized protests in the June 1, 2004, the International Children's Day.Police and KGB servicemen brought up short an attempt of Uzbek human rights defenders to hold the first meeting since Uzbekistan got independence.
Representatives of police and KGB started look after potential activists early in the morning near their homes.Policemen even changed uniform to civil clothes to look after the human rights activist Yuri Konoplev, who came to the yard to throw the garbage.
These "bodyguards" also were near the entrance of the house where the human rights activist Abdujalil Bolmatov lives.The house of Bakhodir Khan Turkistan, the main initiator of the protest, was surrounded by a police bus. Due to blockade, many human rights activists, including the initiator of the protest Bakhodir Khan Turkistan, human rights activist Yuri Konoplev, could not come to the place of the protest, the square in front of the telecompany. Security forces and intelligence agencies are not allowed people in Uzbekistan attend the meeting.
The last meetings were held in Uzbekistan in the late 80's and early 90's on the initiative of the People's movement activists, "Birlik". The initiator of the meeting of June 1, 2004 he is Bakhodir Khan Turkistan.He was beaten two weeks ago in Tashkent. Two months ago, he applied to the administration of Tashkent, to get permission for a planned protest. Bakhodir Khan Turkistan even pre-paid costs for security during the protest. However, the city authorities had not responded to his statement. The initiators of the failed meeting planned to demand the resignation of President Islam Karimov.
This failed demonstration caused a big resonance. Because of his political activity, pressure and harassment, that increased against the initiator he had to leave Uzbekistan with his family in June 2004.
Political asylum
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Moscow helped Bakhodir Khan Turkistan in Moscow to leave Uzbekistan. February 10, 2005 - Bakhodir Khan Turkistan and his family were granted political asylum in the United States. Even in the US, he managed to organize several protests in Uzbekistan. One of these was a protest May 3, 2005. He organized the translation of several books on nonviolent political struggle.
Coming back to Uzbekistan
November, 2009 - Bahodir Choriev made a statement about his return to Uzbekistan. He саmе back to Uzbekistan to continue his political activities. Immediately upon return, when he appeared at the international airport in Tashkent, he was arrested. Authorities opened a criminal case against. He was conditionally released home.
Despite the persecution and pressure, together with Dilor Iskhokovoy, head of department of the People's Democratic Movement "Birdamlik" in Uzbekistan, Bahodir Choriev visited most regions of the country. He tried to hold a congress of the "Birdamlik" movement. The government resisted the arrival of representatives in other regions of Uzbekistan. As a result, only the representatives of Kashkadarya region were able to participate in this congress. This led to the fact that the meeting could not be considered by the Congress. It was given the status of the Regional Conference of the Movement. Bahodir Choriev returned to the US in December 2009 and continued his political activities.
Activity
During 2010–2014 years Bakhodir Khan Turkistan managed to hold dozens of protests. In 2013, to achieve silence of Bakhodir Khan Turkistan, the Uzbek authorities organized a provocation against his father Hassan Choriev.
People's Democratic Movement "Birdamlik" has created two full-length animated political films. It founded the newspaper "Turkistan ovozi" (Voice of Turkestan), registered in Kazakhstan and exiting the Kazakh and Uzbek languages. It also launched online radio and TV "Turon". In 2006, was launched the web-site www.birdamlik.info, and in 2013 www.mulkdor.com site. Since they started activities, the Movement operates on the voluntary assistance leader,Bakhodir Khan Turkistan and other activists. People's Democratic Movement "Birdamlik" continues its activities. Most of the revenue Bakhodir Khan Turkistan spends on the exercise of political activity.They account for almost half a million dollars USA.
Party Congress
26-27, April, 2014 - People's Democratic Movement "Birdamlik" managed to hold first congress in St. Louis, USA. Congress approves Charter Movement Program Guide One, Two, Manual and other documents.
Presidential elections
In March 2015, In the presidential elections on the initiative of Bahodir Choriev were held Alternative Online Presidential elections. 9 candidates participated in an alternative choice. The winner of the Alternative line of presidential elections was Bakhodir Khan Turkistan.