Article author:
Reuters
Almaty — Last week, 18 people were killed and 243 were injured during a turmoil in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan's autonomous region, Uzbekistan officials said Monday.
Security forces detained 516 people during protests that broke out over plans to reduce Karakalpakstan's autonomy, but now released many, state security press briefings Told to.
On Saturday, President Shavkatomirziyoev withdrew plans to amend the constitutional provisions on Karakalpakstan's sovereignty and its right to withdraw. He also declared a month-long state of emergency in the northwest.
According to official reports, protesters marched in the capital of Nukus last Friday in an attempt to seize local government buildings, with 34 million people in Central Asian countries. Caused the worst anxiety in almost 20 years. ..
According to the public prosecutor's office, 18 people died "in serious wounds" during the clash.
Two exiled opposition politicians in contact with people on earth told Reuters that they believed the actual numbers were much higher. It was not possible to determine the number of deaths independently.
Located on the coast of the Aral Sea, which has been the site of environmental disasters for decades, Karakalpakstan is home to ethnic minority Karakalpaks. The Karakalpak language is Turkish, but different from Uzbek.
"The Karakalpak people are not Uzbeks ... they have their own traditions, culture and laws," said Alga, who supports the independence of Karakalpakstan based in Norway. Amansagiduraev, the leader of the Karakalpakstan Party, told Reuters. Accuses the government of conducting a "punishing operation."
MUTED REACTION
A group of opposition politicians and activists claiming to be the government of Karakalpakstan in exile has appealed to Mirjiyoev.
In it, they released law enforcement participants, including the release of arrested demonstrators, the dissolution of the Karakalpak government and the implementation of new elections, and the use of "unjust and disproportionate forces" in law enforcement actions. Called for a review. It led to human casualties, torture and arbitrary detention. "
They discriminated against their language and the" silence "of the history of the region. I complained about "to distortion".
Russia, which has a close relationship with former Soviet Uzbekistan, said the problem was Uzbekistan's internal affairs, and the European Union called for an "open and independent investigation of violence in Karakalpakstan." ..
Milzijoev's office discussed the issue individually with President Charles Michel of the EU Council, stating that the anxiety was caused by "criminal factors".
Asylum Uzbek opposition politician Pulat Ahunov appears to have stabilized the situation with a state of emergency and a curfew imposed during periods of strict security, but still ethnic conflict. He told Reuters that he was at risk.
An estimated 700,000 Karakalpaks live in Uzbekistan, most of them in the Autonomous Republic. Due to their geographical and linguistic proximity, many seek work and sometimes move to neighboring Kazakhstan.
Some observers miscalculated Tashkent's attempt to reduce Karakalpakstan's autonomy, that is, Milziyoev himself preempted potential separatism against the backdrop of the Ukrainian conflict. I believe he criticized the local parliamentarians for the move. ..
According to official reports, in 2005 Uzbekistan security forces subdued armed protests in the city of Andijan, killing 173 people in the clash. The government blamed Islamic extremists at the time for the crisis in Andijan, located in the eastern part of Uzbekistan. (Report by Olzhas Auyezov, Additional Report by Mark Trevelyan in London, Edited by Alison Williams)