Riots in Uzbekistan leave at least 18 dead

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 04 Jul 2022 by Alex Teddy

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On July 4 the government announced the death toll in the Karakalpakstan Region. The government proposed a constitutional amendment which would have removed the region's right to declare independence.  The unrest is the most serious outbreak of unrest since Mirziyoyev became president in 2016. Disorder is usually dealt with extremely harshly. In Andijan, when there were mass protests, at least 170 people were killed by the security forces. Mirziyoyev claims to be a reformist and has released some political prisoners. The government's official death toll is likely to be an underestimate. A state of emergency is in effect in the stricken region. The government says that 243 people have been injured and over 500 arrested.  There is an official public discussion on constitutional reform that is due to last until July 15. Unrest broke out on July 1. The government was so alarmed by the protests and vandalism that it announced that it will not deprive the region of its right to break away.  The constitutional reform package will be put to a referendum later in 2022. It will allow the president to seek two more terms of 7 years each. Votes in Uzbekistan have never been regarded as free or fair by the international community.  The EU has asked that there be an independent investigation into the killings. Russia is the main trade partner of Uzbekistan. Moscow has not criticized the Uzbek government. Russia would like the former Soviet state to join the Collective Security Treaty Organization and Eurasian Economic Union. But Uzbekistan has not done so, although it also did not vote on the UN Resolution about the Ukraine War.  Karakalpakstan is one of the poorest regions in Uzbeki...