In Uzbekistan, the government has sentenced a leading human rights activist and two prominent opposition figures to lengthy prison terms. Mukhtabar Tojibaeva, a well-known activist who has led criticism of the Andijan massacre of May 2005, was sentenced to eight years in prison Monday. Holly Cartner, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch, said: “We view [the] conviction as part of a pattern of persecution against independent voices and critics within civil society since the Andijan massacre. The ferocity of this pattern is unprecedented, even when judged against Uzbekistan’s 14-year history of repression since independence from the Soviet Union.” Also Monday, opposition leader Sanjar Umarov of the Sunshine Coalition of Uzbekistan was sentenced to 14 years in prison. Last week, the group’s coordinator, Nodira Khidoiatova,, was sentenced to a ten-year term.