New York, June 15, 2005—Police in the southern Uzbek city of Karshi yesterday released Tulkin Karayev, a correspondent for the London-based Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR), after he served a 10-day detention on charges of hooliganism, IWPR Central Asia Editor Filip Noubel told CPJ.

Police arrested Karayev on June 4 after an unidentified woman attacked him on the street in downtown Karshi. When Karayev went to the local police station to report the incident, he discovered that his female attacker had already declared herself the victim of the attack. A local court sentenced the journalist to 10 days in prison the same day. He had no access to a lawyer during his trial, and was prevented from having contact with his relatives during his 10-day detention, IWPR said.

Before the incident, Karayev had complained of increased surveillance of his apartment by security services. He also said security service agents had approached his family and friends, IWPR reported.

Read more about Karayev's case.