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(Berlin, July 1, 2024) – Uzbekistan Authorities have stepped up their crackdown on calls for independence in the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan since protests broke out two years ago, Human Rights Watch said today.
But Uzbekistan has yet to hold any senior officials accountable for using excessive force in suppressing protests in July 2022 against proposed constitutional amendments that would strip the region of its autonomous status and ban an independence referendum.
“Not only has the Uzbek leadership failed to deliver justice for those killed in the Karakalpakstan protests two years ago, but since then we have also seen a marked increase in repression against other Karakalpakstan activists,” he said. Hugh Williamson“Uzbekistan’s partners should renew their calls for justice and condemn the ongoing crackdown on activists inside and outside Karakalpakstan.”
July 1-2, 2022, Uzbekistan Security forces used unjustified lethal force and other forms of excessive force, including firing small arms and grenades to disperse peaceful protesters in Karakalpakstan. At least 21 people were killed, including four law enforcement officers. More than 270 were injured.
Uzbek authorities abandoned their proposed constitutional changes but have since taken harsh measures against any speech or action supporting Karakalpakstan’s independence.
Immediately following the protests, authorities arrested more than 500 people and charged 61 people in two high-profile criminal trials, including lawyers, bloggers, activists and journalists, for their alleged involvement in the protests. Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov, a blogger and lawyer who initially called for peaceful protests, was accused of participating in the protests. Sentenced to 16 years in prisonPolice and courts ignored his allegations of ill-treatment and torture.
Human Rights Watch reviewed prosecution documents filed since July 2022 against nine Karakalpak activists, who were charged with “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order” and “producing or distributing material that threatens public security.” Human Rights Watch also reviewed media reports and statements issued by human rights organizations. In mid-June, Human Rights Watch sent a letter to the Uzbek government requesting information about the case, but has not yet received a response.
Human Rights Watch said the arrest and prosecution of members of the diaspora, including the Karakalpaks, simply for expressing their political views in a peaceful manner violates the internationally protected rights to freedom of expression and assembly and is inconsistent with Uzbekistan’s reform commitments and so-called human rights agenda.
Two activists – Remov sent57 and Konglatbai RedzhepovThe 57-year-olds were sentenced to four and seven years in prison respectively in December 2022. Remov had expressed support for a peaceful protest on September 1, 2022, demanding the release of political prisoners, while Redepov called for a rally demanding the independence of Karakalpakstan in October 2020. Both had previously been sentenced to 15 days of administrative imprisonment for trying to go to Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan, during the 2022 protests.
On May 10, 2023, Alypbai Aytmuratov was sentenced to seven years in prison for videos he shared on his Telegram channel. According to a state-ordered expert analysis, the videos allegedly contained “separatist ideological messages aimed at inciting panic among the population.” The verdict effectively criminalized the expression of ideas, but did not specify in what language the criminal charges were based.
Jumasapar Dadebaev, 37, an ethnic Turkmen from Karakalpakstan, has been living in Türkiyewas forcibly deported to Uzbekistan in January 2022 and was subsequently arrested. On August 10, 2022, after a closed-door trial, the Tashkent Court sentenced Dadebayev to 12 years in prison on more than a dozen criminal charges, including “attempting to overthrow the constitutional order”, “insulting the president”, and “producing or distributing materials that threaten public order”.
While Dadbayev did not participate in the July 2022 protests, he has previously called for independence for Karakalpakstan, criticized government officials, and called for peaceful protests.
Uzbekistan also targets activists abroad, particularly those living in Kazakhstanand charged them with unfounded criminal charges. In September 2023, an Uzbek court in absentia indicted five Karakalpaks, Koshkarbai Toremuratov, Zhungeldy Zhaksymbetov, Raisa Khudaibergenova, Ziyuar Mirmanbetova and Tleubike Yuldasheva, sentencing them to prison terms ranging from 3 to 10 years and 1 month. Kazakh police have arrested Three more Karakalpaks Uzbekistan has been seeking their extradition since the beginning of this year.
On February 22, 2024, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan ruled that the Karakalpakstan opposition group Alga Karakalpakstan was “extremist” and banned it from operating in Uzbekistan. The leader of the movement, Aman Sagidullaev, a Karakalpak activist seeking political asylum in Norway, was prosecuted in absentia in connection with the July 2022 protests and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Human rights defender Vitaliy Ponamarev told Human Rights Watch that at least one person, Parakhat Musapbarov, has Prosecuted for alleged membership On May 30, 2024, the Khojeli District Court sentenced Musapbarov to six years in prison in accordance with Article 6 of the Constitution. 244-2, or “Member of a banned extremist group.”
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch said authorities had failed to bring justice to those killed or injured in the 2022 protests.
Three police officers were charged for “unlawful conduct” during the protests. Kagan Municipal Court On August 4, 2023, the Supreme Court sentenced two of them to seven years in prison for torture and another to three years in prison for perjury and putting others in danger resulting in their death in connection with the events in Karakalpakstan. However, information about the prosecution was not made public until after the verdicts were announced, and we know very little about the case, including the specific crimes.
December 2022 The Attorney General announced An investigation into the deaths of two people and the use of weapons to disperse protests in Karakalpakstan is said to be ongoing, but further information about the investigation has not been made public.
A so-called independent parliamentary committee was appointed in July 2022 to investigate human rights violations during and after the incident, but has yet to publish its findings.
Human Rights Watch said Uzbek authorities should stop imprisoning Karakalpaks for peacefully expressing their aspirations for Karakalpakstan’s independence, release those wrongfully imprisoned, and take urgent steps to provide justice for those killed in the 2022 events.
Human Rights Watch said Uzbekistan’s partners, particularly the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Germany, which have representatives in Tashkent, should play an important role in holding Uzbekistan accountable, delivering justice for those killed in the July 2022 protests, and ensuring the release of Karakalpak activists and others who have been wrongfully imprisoned.
“It is deeply irresponsible for Uzbek authorities to jail Karakalpak activists for alleged ‘unconstitutional’ activities while neglecting to hold accountable those killed in the July 2022 events,” Williamson said. “Uzbekistan’s partners have said nothing about the recent crackdown, and they need to speak up, and they need to speak up now.”
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