Uzbekistan’s president threatens ‘strict measures’ in response to Karakalpakistan protests

July 3 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The president of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has warned that they will respond with “strict measures” in the face of the protests unleashed in the autonomous region of Karakalpakistan after his proposal to annul its autonomy.

“We are going to take strict measures against those who try to cause disorder,” Mirziyoyev said late on Saturday from Nukus, the capital of the autonomous republic, according to the Uzbek news portal kun.uz.

In addition, Mirziyoyev has called for unity. “Let’s build together a new Uzbekistan, a new Karakalpakistan! All our reforms and debates in this area must be based on democracy and legal criteria,” he argued.

He has also called for the “solidarity of all our compatriots.” “Act wisely (…). I believe in the intelligence and wisdom of the noble and tolerant people of Karacalpako,” he stressed.

Mirziyoyev declared a state of emergency in Karakalpakistan for a month on Saturday “to ensure the safety of citizens, protect their rights and freedoms and restore law and order in that territory of the Republic of Karakalpakistan,” according to the Uzdaily news portal. .

The state of emergency includes a curfew between 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., entry and exit from the region is restricted, and all public events are prohibited. In addition, military personnel will be deployed.

The protests are due to a proposed constitutional change that abolished the autonomy of the Karakalpakistan region. The change sparked violent protests on Friday, a highly unusual circumstance in an authoritarian country like Uzbekistan.

Mirziyoyev traveled to Nukus this Saturday and shortly afterwards a presidential spokesman explained to the press that the constitutional text that refers to the autonomous sovereignty of the area will be respected.

Mirziyoyev has held the post of president since the death of his predecessor, Islam Karimov, in 2016. He has promised to promote a “free civil society” after his re-election last year, but human rights activists have denounced the abuses that persist despite certain reforms.