11/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - In a press release published on Tuesday 10 June, the Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the EU welcomed the release on parole of Mutabar Tadjubaeva, a human rights activist in Uzbekistan. Ms Tadjibaeva, who was released on 2 June, had been sentenced to 8 years' imprisonment for criticising the force used by the Uzbek authorities against demonstrations in Andijan in 2005. She will be able to travel abroad to receive the 2008 Martin Ennals Prize, the EU says. The EU has called on the Uzbek authorities to grant her a full pardon. While remaining concerned at the human rights situation, at the end of April, the EU welcomed the progress made by Uzbekistan (see EUROPE 9653). It maintained the suspension of the restrictions on visas, decided in October 2007, when sanctions against the country were renewed for a further year (see EUROPE 9524). (A.B./transl.rt)