Uzbekistan Jails Journalist And Protesters For Demonstrations Against The Regime

The impoverished region is closely linked to the drying Aral Sea, one of the world’s worst man-made environmental disasters.

Karakalpakstan has its own parliament, council of ministers, flag and national anthem.

– ‘Excessive use of force’ –

Protests broke out in Nukus on 1 and 2 July over an attempt to strip Karakalpakstan’s right – protected by the constitution – to hold a referendum on self-determination.

Hundreds of people were arrested.

President Mirziyoyev accused “foreign forces” of fueling the unrest, without further explanation, before scrapping the proposed changes.

Mirziyoyev came to power in 2016 after the death of his autocratic predecessor, Islam Karimov.

He has implemented economic and social reforms, but his regime has been accused by rights groups of violating fundamental freedoms.

Human Rights Watch said in November that authorities “unjustly used deadly force … to disperse mostly peaceful protesters” after verifying dozens of videos and photos of the protests.

An investigation has been launched into the disproportionate use of force, Uzbek prosecutors said in December.

Although journalists were authorized to cover the trial of Tazhimuratov and his co-defendants, it was held in distant Bukhara, about 600 kilometers (370 mi) from both Nukus and Tashkent, the capital.

In addition, journalists and human rights organizations have limited access to information about the events that took place in Karakalpakstan.

The prosecutor’s office confirmed to AFP that 21 people died in the riots, but a list of victims and the circumstances of their deaths has not been made public.

Uzbekistan is the most populous ex-Soviet republic in Central Asia and has historical ties to Russia.

But since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Tashkent and some of its neighbors in Central Asia have looked elsewhere, including China and Europe.

Despite being home to a wealth of natural resources, including gas, Uzbekistan has faced economic difficulties, including energy shortages amid historically cold temperatures this winter.

In Karakalpakstan, climate change and drought have also affected the main industry, agriculture.

AFP