Photo courtesy of senat.uz
The special commission investigating the events in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (an autonomous republic within Uzbekistan) on July 1-2, 2022, has presented a new report on its findings. The document was read at a joint session of both chambers of Uzbekistan's parliament, according to the press service of the Senate (upper house).
The commission members assessed the causes and consequences of the «Nukus riots,» observed the judicial processes, visited suspects in detention facilities, and considered citizens' appeals. They also conducted surveys of employees from non-governmental organizations and prisoners. The experts initiated the release of 30 individuals accused of involvement in the unrest, directly from the courtroom.
Following the commission’s request, 107 out of 168 individuals involved in the case, including two women, were returned to their families.
In total, 943 participants in the Karakalpak protests were given warnings for violations, 6,135 individuals were fined, 2,639 faced other administrative penalties, and 61 were convicted of criminal offenses.
The report stated that in the summer of 2022, law enforcement used internationally recognized crowd-control measures to disperse the protests, such as water cannons, equipment for spraying colored liquids, and tear gas grenades.
The commission confirmed the official data that 21 people died during the «Nukus events,» including two law enforcement officers. Additionally, 413 people were injured, including 183 law enforcement personnel. The state suffered a loss of 6.8 billion soms (over $520,000).
Three law enforcement officers were prosecuted for human rights violations during the dispersal of mass gatherings.
In conclusion, the commission provided several recommendations to government bodies. They suggested that in the future, important decisions should be clearly communicated to the public and accompanied by public debates. Authorities at all levels were advised to improve the system for responding to misinformation and to regulate the use of special equipment by law enforcement during riots.
The Commission on the «Nukus Events,» led by Ombudsman Feruza Eshmatova, was created on July 15, 2022. It includes deputies, senators, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and civil society. It is known that the commission closely collaborates with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), media organizations, and other associations.
Mass protests occurred in Karakalpakstan on July 1-2, 2022, when participants opposed proposed amendments to the Constitution of Uzbekistan that would deprive the republic of its sovereignty. The protests ended after Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who arrived in Nukus, announced the cancellation of these amendments.
The first trial related to the «Nukus case» took place from November 28, 2022, to January 31, 2023. The main defendant, 43-year-old former editor-in-chief of the «El Khizmatinde» newspaper, Daulmetmurat Tajimuratov, was sentenced to 16 years in prison and ordered to pay damages of 228.8 million soms ($20,200).
The second trial concluded in March 2023. As a result, 28 defendants received sentences ranging from five to 11 years in prison, and 11 others were sentenced to five years of restricted freedom.
In June 2023, Uzbekistan's Supreme Court's appellate commission announced the results of the appeals in the «Nukus case.» Eight of the convicted individuals had their sentences reduced and were released directly from the courtroom. However, Tajimuratov’s sentence remained unchanged.
