The Embassy of the United States in Tashkent makes a lot to provide locals (ordinary people) with access to information. Sometimes they try to provide with access to banned sources of information such as blocked internet sites and banned international reports [of the US State Department and international organizations].

Information Resource Center (IRC) based at the building of the Embassy serves for more than a year. It provides visitors with US and European periodicals, outstanding literature, reports of the US State Department on annually Human Rights violations reports which can be used during working hours and can be taken outside [for home use]. The access to internet is minimized to 1,5 hours a visit and during that time visitor could feel himself safe. At least, until Ministry of Internal Affairs officers, supposed to protect the outside territories of the Embassy, started impartial document checkings and gathering information about all the visitors.

Imagine, you are going to visit IRC to read some news at journals and newspapers and check your e-mail. All of these is for free and could be even copied. All you need is (or was before) to sign up beforehand and enjoy your visit after checking for security purposes by US Embassy security officers. But… if before Uzbek policemen (militia) used to check you passport and report your arrival to Embassy security officers, now they are writing down all the information about you to their specialized notebook specifying your name and surname, passport details, home address, occupation and the person or department you are visiting.

Such an interest in each visitor brings to the fear that something is wrong over here. But what exactly?

“There is no such a regulation agreed between Embassy and Ministry of Internal Affairs”, – said US Embassy in Tashkent Press-Attaché Molly Stephenson during one of the public events in the Embassy, – “it’s not our will or decision to fix the information about visitors and we can do nothing currently. But we hope to solve this problem soon.”

What is this? Another insurance step towards controlling the situation with US Embassy visitors which are considered as a potential pro-American zombies by Uzbek officials?

I can’t understand how it is possible to have such a lack of culture to interfere internal business of the US Embassy. No one anywhere and ever dared to interfere diplomatic missions’ affairs, including visits, meetings whatever on the territory of the Embassy or Diplomatic area.

Among visitors of the IRC there are some persons which are in the circle of the interests of SNB, like Shuxrat Akhmadjonov. These people try to use the territory of the Embassy as a safe area. Everything ends, and IRC working hours also. After getting off the Embassy they are taken under “warm” control of mentioned above SNB officers and are questioned if something anti-governmental is going on in the Embassy, some kind of propaganda by Embassy workers.

That’s clear that everybody who know that no one get information about somebody just for fun. And this fact makes to feel worry and fear to be questioned by SNB someday…

photo from http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tashkent-Uzbekistan/IRC-Tashkent/9631659185