Investigation wanted into deadly unrest in Uzbekistan
Uzbek authorities have announced the death of 18 people in clashes on Friday in Karakalpakstan, a poor region in the northwest of the country.
Michelle Bachelet, June 13, 2022 in Geneva. (illustrative image)
AFP
Michelle Bachelet, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and the United States called on Tuesday for a prompt and independent investigation into deadly clashes during mass protests in Uzbekistan.
Uzbek authorities announced on Monday the death of 18 people during clashes in Karakalpakstan on Friday, during demonstrations denouncing a constitutional reform project which would reduce the autonomy granted to this poor region in the north-west of the country and of which Nukus is the capital city.
“The reports we have received of serious violence, including killings, during the protests are very worrying,” Michelle Bachelet said in a statement, calling on “authorities to exercise the utmost restraint” and to “immediately open a transparent and independent investigation into all allegations of criminal acts (…), including violations committed by agents of the State”.
500 people arrested
The United States, for its part, expressed its concern and called on all parties to seek a “peaceful solution” to the tensions. “We urge the authorities to conduct a full, credible and transparent investigation into the violence, consistent with international standards and best practices,” US State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.
Michelle Bachelet also indicated that more than 500 people were arrested. “People should not be condemned for exercising their rights”, according to the former President of Chile, who recalled that “under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, in which Uzbekistan participates, everyone has the right to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, the right to participate in public affairs, to see a lawyer promptly after his arrest and to have a fair trial.
The clashes between anti-government protesters and security forces are the most serious crisis experienced by Chavkat Mirzioev, former prime minister who became president in 2016 on the death of his predecessor and mentor Islam Karimov.
Emergency state
He carried out important economic and social reforms, also promising a timid political liberalisation. Re-elected last year, he recently gave a turn of the screw. The Head of State wants to reform the Constitution so that it allows him to stay in power longer.
A month-long state of emergency was declared in the region on Saturday, but the High Commissioner reminded the Uzbek authorities that restrictions under a state of emergency must be in accordance with international law, necessary, proportional, non-discriminatory, limited over time and monitored to avoid excesses.
Michelle Bachelet urged the government to immediately restore the internet, considering that the measure has an impact on certain fundamental rights (freedom of expression, access to information). This new episode of violence adds to the long list of clashes, riots, repressions and clashes that regularly shake the former Soviet republics of Central Asia, over which Russia still exercises great influence.
Published today at 00:14
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