News

27th October 2003

John Bowis MEP calls on the UK Government to restore British Ambassador to Uzbekistan

John Bowis, MEP for London and Deputy Leader of the Conservative Group has called upon the British Government to restore Craig Murray to his post as the British Ambassador to Uzbekistan. Recent reports in the media suggest that Britain's ambassador to Tashkent - the capital of Uzbekistan - was mysteriously returned to the UK a few weeks ago on temporary sick leave for being too outspoken about the lack of progress towards democracy and human rights in the country.

Speaking in a European Parliament debate on human rights in Central Asia, John Bowis said:

"Craig Murray is a fearless diplomat who told us the truth as he saw it. Perhaps he was unwise to do so, but he was right to do so. At a meeting in Tashkent on 17 October he said: 'I believe that people are born with an instinct for liberty and that freedom and democracy come naturally to people everywhere once they are given the chance'.

"Well, the British Government did not endorse or commend him. It summoned him home for treatment. I ask the Commission to issue a diplomatic 'habeus corpus' challenge to the British Foreign Secretary: restore a good man to his post and the gainers will be the Uzbek people and their leaders, but also the good name of British diplomacy."