Uzbekistan Human Rights
Human Rights Concerns
Uzbekistan's disastrous human rights record worsened further in 2005 after a government massacre of demonstrators in Andijan in May. The government committed major violations of the rights to freedom of religion, expression, association, and assembly, and such abuses only increased after the May massacre. Uzbekistan has no independent judiciary, and torture is widespread in both pre-trial and post-conviction facilities. The government continues its practice of controlling, intimidating, and arbitrarily suspending or interfering with the work of civil society groups, the media, human rights activists, and opposition political parties. In particular, repression against independent journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition members increased this year. Government declarations of human rights reform, such as an announcement that the government will abolish the death penalty and the president's declaration of support for habeas corpus had no practical impact.
Relevant Links
Uzbekistan Newsroom
May 15, 2018 • Press Release
President Trump Must Urge Uzbekistan to Implement Overdue Human Rights Reforms
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan is visiting the White House for the first time this week. He will meet with President Trump to discuss issues such as trade and investment, as well as regional security.
August 8, 2017 • Press Release
Russia court halts journalist’s deportation to Uzbekistan but detains him despite abuse claims
In response to Moscow City Court’s decision to suspend the deportation to Uzbekistan of openly gay journalist Khudoberdi Nurmatov (better known by his journalist alias Ali Feruz) but to keep him in detention while his case is reviewed by the European Court of Human Rights, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Europe and Central Asia, Denis Krivosheev, said the following.
April 20, 2016 • Press Release
Uzbekistan: Russian authorities complicit in forcibly returning hundreds of asylum-seekers and migrants to face torture
Hundreds of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrant workers have been deported and even abducted in forced returns from Russia to Uzbekistan, where they have been subjected to torture, said Amnesty International in a briefing released today.
April 20, 2016 • Report
Uzbekistan: Russian authorities complicit in forcibly returning hundreds of asylum-seekers and migrants to face torture
Hundreds of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrant workers have been deported and even abducted in forced returns from Russia to Uzbekistan, where they have been subjected to torture, said Amnesty International in a briefing released today.
February 22, 2016 • Press Release
Amnesty International’s Annual State of the World Report Slams Governments, Including the U.S., for Global Assault on Freedoms
On the launch of its 2015 State of the World report, Amnesty International USA urged President Obama to use his last year in office to bring U.S. laws and policies in line with international human rights standards.
February 18, 2016 • Press Release
Your rights in jeopardy, global assault on freedoms, warns Amnesty International
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
February 18, 2016 • Report
Amnesty International State of the World 2015-2016
International protection of human rights is in danger of unravelling as short-term national self-interest and draconian security crackdowns have led to a wholesale assault on basic freedoms and rights, warned Amnesty International as it launched its annual assessment of human rights around the world. “Your rights are in jeopardy: they are being treated with utter contempt by many governments around the world,” said Salil Shetty, Secretary General of Amnesty International.
October 30, 2015 • Press Release
Secretary Kerry Must Raise Issue of Arbitrary Extensions of Sentences for Prisoners of Conscience with Uzbek Officials
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is set to visit Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, over the coming days for a series of bilateral and multilateral talks with his counterparts. In response, T. Kumar, International Advocacy Director for Amnesty International USA, released the following statement:
October 15, 2015 • Press Release
US Congress must launch urgent inquiry into Obama’s drone use
The U.S. Congress must launch an immediate independent inquiry into the Obama administration’s drone strikes overseas, Amnesty International said following today’s publication of a series of files and documents disclosing long-standing secrets of the global killing program.
April 13, 2015 • Report
Secrets and Lies: Forced Confessions Under Torture in Uzbekistan
The U.S., Germany, and other European Union countries’ continuing ‘blind-spot’ to endemic torture in Uzbekistan ensures that appalling abuses will continue unabated, said Amnesty International.
