Uzbekistan: Villagers Arrested for Trying to Sell Cotton in Kyrgyzstan
Two residents of the village of Yangizamov in the Izboskan district of Andijan province were detained for trying to sell cotton in neighboring Kyrgyzstan, Radio Ozodlik, the Uzbek service of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported October 10.
Hurshidbek Abdujalolov, 30 sold a fellow villager, Malika Ahmedova, some of the cotton he had picked.
Ahmedova in turn was detained by Uzbek border guards when she went to try to sell the cotton in Kyrgyzstan just across the border. Both were fined the equivalent of 10 and 5 monthly wages, a district court official told Radio Ozodlik.
In recent years, Uzbek authorities have cracked down on farmers trying to sell their cotton outside the state system, particularly around the border areas.
A policeman who withheld his name told Radio Ozodlik that a circuit judge had come to try the cotton-sellers. Ahmedova had purchased 13-14 kilograms from Abdujalolov, and had also as well as additional cotton from a minor, and was caught with 60 kilos at the border.
The authorities' attention turned to the farmer who owned the field where the cotton was picked, but he said he was not present when the sales took place. He urged Radio Ozodlik not to cover the story and said that the two villagers regretted their offense and had apologized, saying they had only sold the cotton out of severe economic need. He said he had not experienced thefts before, but was now forced to hire watchmen day and night.
Another policeman told Radio Ozodlik that everyone was being turned out for the cotton harvest now, and were being warned that any theft would be harshly punished.
Andijan regional television covered the story and interviewed the two culprits, noting that their incentive was powerful: while people could only earn about 150 soums per kilo of cotton in Uzbekistan, they could sell it in Kyrgyzstan for 500 soums.
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