Jailed Uzbek activist pardoned, supporters say

TASHKENT, Dec 25 (Reuters) A prominent Uzbek human rights activist jailed for extortion has been released in an amnesty, his supporters said today.

An Uzbek court sentenced Yadgar Turlibekov, 70, to 3-1/2 years in jail in October. Uzbekistan's IGNPU human rights group said it was a fabricated case.

IGNPU chairman Surat Ikramov said Turlibekov was pardoned and released from jail yesterday. Uzbek justice officials were not available for comment.

Uzbekistan, an ex-Soviet Central Asian state, has been criticised in the West for jailing dissidents and human rights campaigners.

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