General Information about the Country:
Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia with a population of approximately 37.5 million people. Its capital and largest city is Tashkent. The official language is Uzbek, a Turkic language, although Russian is widely used in business and government, and Tajik is spoken in certain regions.
The dominant religion in Uzbekistan is Islam, primarily Sunni Islam, with a small minority of Shia Muslims and Christians, mainly of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Geographically, Uzbekistan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest. The country’s territory is largely covered by deserts, particularly the Kyzylkum Desert, with mountain ranges in the east and fertile areas such as the Fergana Valley. Uzbekistan has a continental climate characterized by hot summers and cold winters.
Political System:
Uzbekistan functions as a presidential republic with significant powers concentrated in the presidency. The country formally has a multi-party system, but the political environment is marked by a lack of substantial opposition to the ruling party. Major political parties include:
1. UzLiDeP (Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan) – The dominant political party closely aligned with the ruling administration. It advocates for market reforms and modernization while maintaining the political status quo.
2. Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival Democratic Party) – A party emphasizing national values, cultural heritage, and traditionalism, often supportive of the government.
3. Adolat (Social Democratic Party) – A center-left party promoting social justice, welfare reforms, and government intervention in the economy.
4. People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (PDPU) – The former ruling party during the Soviet era, now a nominal opposition party supporting social welfare programs and state involvement in economic affairs.
5. Ecological Party of Uzbekistan – Focused on environmental issues and sustainable development, gaining importance as the country faces major ecological challenges, such as the Aral Sea crisis.
Since 2016, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has served as the President of Uzbekistan, succeeding Islam Karimov, the country’s first president. Mirziyoyev has implemented a series of reforms aimed at economic liberalization, improving foreign relations, and reducing state control over society. Despite these changes, Uzbekistan remains largely a semi-authoritarian state with limited political pluralism. However, Mirziyoyev’s tenure has seen increased engagement with international organizations and a cautious shift toward greater openness.
Recent Elections and Results:
In 2023, Uzbekistan held a national referendum in March that introduced a new constitution, allowing President Mirziyoyev to run for two additional seven-year terms. Snap presidential elections took place on July 9, 2023. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) election monitoring mission noted that the elections “lacked genuine competition” and were marred by “significant procedural irregularities.” Authorities also denied registration to the independent Truth, Progress, and Unity Party, preventing its leader, Khidirnazar Allakulov, from participating.
State of Democracy:
Freedom of Speech and Media Independence
In 2023, there was a significant decline in respect for freedom of speech and media independence. In March, around 40 journalists and bloggers signed an open letter to President Mirziyoyev, expressing concerns about censorship, pressure, and intimidation. Under increasing pressure, several bloggers and independent journalists announced that they would cease their activities.
Defamation and insult, including insulting the president, remain criminal offenses. In October, a Samarkand regional court sentenced a 19-year-old to 2.5 years in prison for insulting the president online.
In early August, a Tashkent court sentenced investigative blogger Abduqodir Muminov to seven years and three months in prison on multiple charges, including large-scale extortion. At his appeal hearing, Muminov reported that he had been tortured in detention.
Blogger Otabek Sattoriy continues to serve a six-and-a-half-year prison sentence for alleged extortion. In February, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention issued a decision in favor of Sattoriy, calling for his release and compensation for damages.
Freedom of Assembly and Association
The Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan continued to deny registration to independent human rights organizations, and authorities blocked several individuals, including a human rights monitor, from entering the country.
On August 4, 2023, a court in Uzbekistan sentenced two police officers to seven years in prison for torture and another to three years for perjury and leaving a person in danger, which resulted in their death during the events in Karakalpakstan. However, no other law enforcement officers were held accountable for the 21 deaths and numerous serious injuries that occurred during those events. The parliamentary commission established to investigate human rights abuses has yet to publish its findings.
In two separate trials related to the Karakalpakstan events, courts in Bukhara convicted 61 defendants in January and March 2023, including lawyers and journalists, on charges of “rioting” and other offenses, sentencing them to up to 16 years in prison. Of these, 15 were given non-custodial sentences. On appeal, sentences for 35 defendants were reduced. One defendant, Polat Shamshetov, sentenced to six years in January, unexpectedly died in custody four days after his conviction.
In May 2023, a court in Uzbekistan convicted in absentia two ethnic Karakalpaks living in exile, Aman Sagidullaev and Nietbai Urazbaev, on multiple charges, including attempting to overthrow the constitutional order. They were sentenced to 18 and 12 years in prison, respectively.
Uzbek authorities obstruct independent human rights activism. The Ministry of Justice continues to deny registration to independent organizations, including Human Rights House in Tashkent, citing trivial reasons. In 2023, no efforts were made to pass a long-delayed draft law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs). However, new regulations were adopted regarding the receipt of foreign funding by NGOs.
Political Persecution and Repression
Torture and ill-treatment remain serious issues. On March 21, 2023, 12 police officers were sentenced to prison terms ranging from three to four years for torture that resulted in the death of a 32-year-old man in pretrial detention in the Shakhrihan district of Andijan.
Karakalpak blogger and lawyer Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov, sentenced to 16 years in prison, testified that law enforcement officers beat him in custody, used a stun gun on him, and stood on his head, causing him to lose consciousness. Authorities failed to investigate his allegations of torture effectively. Tazhimuratov’s lawyer, Sergey Mayorov, reported in April and September 2023 that his client continued to face abuse and restrictions in prison.
Authorities also ignored a May 2021 opinion by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, which called for the immediate release of Kadyr Yusupov, a former diplomat sentenced in January 2020 to five-and-a-half years in prison on charges of treason.
Human Rights
Major Human Rights Violations
The state tightly controls religious practices, especially for Muslims who do not conform to state-approved interpretations. Individuals practicing outside these parameters may face charges of extremism or other criminal offenses. Non-Muslim religious communities also struggle with registration and are frequently harassed.
Uzbek authorities restrict religious freedom by preventing the registration of religious communities, subjecting former religious prisoners to arbitrary controls, and prosecuting Muslims under vague extremism-related charges, including under Article 244-1, Part 3, of the Criminal Code for storing or sharing materials deemed “religious extremist” on social media.
Reports by International Organizations
On October 2, 2023, the European Parliament adopted a resolution expressing concern over constitutional amendments allowing the president to extend his term in office and Uzbekistan’s poor human rights record. The resolution called for “an independent, impartial, and effective investigation into the events of July 2022 in Karakalpakstan.”
On November 8, 2023, Uzbekistan appeared before the UN Human Rights Council for its fourth Universal Periodic Review. Member states recommended that the Uzbek government address impunity for torture and ensure that NGOs and journalists can operate without harassment.
Reforms and Prospects
Current or Planned Reforms
In April 2023, Uzbekistan adopted legislative amendments criminalizing domestic violence and strengthening protections for women and girls. Domestic violence is now classified as a standalone offense. However, it remains a pervasive and serious issue.
Prospects for Improvement
• Ensure that all civil society organizations, including those addressing human rights issues, can obtain legal status through a fair and transparent process and operate without undue interference by authorities.
• End the persecution of citizens, both inside and outside the country, for criticizing the government or engaging with like-minded individuals to discuss issues of mutual concern.
Recommendations for the Foundation
• Raise awareness about human rights violations through campaigns that inform both local and international communities. By documenting cases of abuse and publicly sharing victims’ stories, the Foundation can draw attention to issues such as political repression, media censorship, and restrictions on freedom of assembly.
• Support independent media through programs that include in-depth analysis of the current situation and existing initiatives.
• Provide legal representation for activists, journalists, and protesters facing arbitrary detention or politically motivated charges.