and supporters allege that he was drugged. Human rights groups accuse Uzbekistan's government of regularly drugging prisoners to extract confessions, an allegation the government denies. Umarov's trial began in January 2006, and he was convicted in March 2006 of heading a criminal group laundering money through offshore companies, tax avoidance, and hiding foreign currency. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison (reduced to 10 years under an amnesty agreement) and over US$8 million in fines. Umarov was held in Prison Camp Kizil-Tepa, Uzbekistan for four years. As a result of diplomatic pressure, Umarov was released on November 7, 2009 and returned home to his family in Germantown, Tennessee two weeks later, on Saturday, November 21. Umarov has since been living in United States and has continued to work with Sunshine Uzbekistan to promote human rights in Uzbekistan. References External links BBC News. Uzbek opposition leader on trial. January 30, 2006. Sunshine Uzbekistan. Biography of Sanjar Umarov. Accessed January 30, 2006. Tribune-uz. Sanjar Umarov, leader of Sunshine Uzbekistan (Interview). June 23, 2005. BBC News. Uzbekistan jails opposition chief. March 6, 2006. Statement of Sanjar Umarov's family on his release . November 23, 2009. http://features.hrw.org/features/Witness_Surviving_the_Monkey_Cage_2014/index.html 1956 births Living people Politicians from Tashkent Uzbekistani criminals Businesspeople from Tashkent Uzbekistani prisoners and detainees Prisoners and detainees of Uzbekistan Uzbekistani emigrants to the United States People convicted of money laundering People convicted of tax crimes