November 3, 1994 - Uzbek President Islam Karimov has issued a decree, published in Tashkent on 2 November, pardoning five opposition activists, according to Interfax and a correspondent for Radio Liberty's Uzbek Service. The five are Polatjan Akhunov, former chairman of the banned political movement Birlik, sentenced in 1992 on fabricated charges of hooliganism; Nasir Zakir, also a Birlik activist; and three members of the Erk opposition party.

Interfax quoted local political observers as speculating that the pardon was intended to increase the chances of a win by Karimov's Popular Democratic Party of Uzbekistan in the parliamentary elections scheduled for 25 December. The trial of six further Erk members on charges of anti-government activities, including treason, is, however, continuing.