The undersigned members of the Civic Solidarity Platform (CSP) strongly condemn the recent decision by an Uzbekistan court to extend the prison sentence of Karakalpak activist Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov from 16 to 18.5 years. We are also deeply concerned that Mr. Tazhimuratov, a non-violent activist, will be transferred to a prison reserved for the country’s most dangerous criminals.
On 1 May 2026, a court in Navoi convicted Mr. Tazhimuratov of committing “actions disrupting the work of a penal institution.” The proceedings were marred by numerous due process violations, including Mr. Tazhimuratov being denied his right to choose his own lawyer and his relatives being barred from the trial until the final day. The additional charges raise significant concerns as Mr. Tazhimuratov has repeatedly reported being subjected to severe mistreatment and abuse in prison, including having authorities withhold his food, confiscate his writing, cut short his calls with family members, and encourage other inmates to physically attack him.
Mr. Tazhimuratov was initially arrested in July 2022 and sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges of organizing and participating in July 2022 protests in Nukus, the capital of the Republic of Karakalpakstan in northwestern Uzbekistan. The protests were a reaction to plans by the Uzbek authorities to lower a provision on the status of Karakalpakstan within the country’s constitution.
At least 21 people were killed during the protests which ended in a brutal crackdown by security services. Hundreds were wounded, thousands arrested and many tortured. Dozens of Karakalpak activists were imprisoned. Despite international pressure, only three members of the police have been punished for excessive use of violence, and the details of these cases are not readily available.
The Civic Solidarity Platform calls on the international community to take immediate steps to address the human rights situation in Karakalpakstan. The Uzbek government’s violations directly contradict its assurances over the past decade that upholding human rights was a vital component of its ongoing reform processes. We call on the government of Uzbekistan to free Mr. Tazhimuratov and to end the criminal and administrative prosecution of residents of Karakalpakstan who call for his release.
Signed by
Belarusian Helsinki Committee (Belarus)
Bir Duino (Kyrgyzstan)
Center for Civil Liberties (Ukraine)
Crude Accountability (USA)
Freedom Files (Poland)
Freedom Now (USA)
Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly – Vanadzor (Armenia)
Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia
Human Rights Centre “Viasna” (Belarus)
Human Rights Center of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan)
International Partnership for Human Rights (Belgium)
Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law (Kazakhstan)
Memorial Human Rights Defense Center (Russia)
Norwegian Helsinki Committee (Norway)
OSCE Network (Sweden)
Promo LEX (Moldova)
Protection of Rights Without Borders (Armenia)
Public Association Dignity (Kazakhstan)
Turkmen Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights (Bulgaria)