Rare public protests have erupted in Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan autonomous republic over a planned constitutional reform that would change its status, Uzbek authorities say. Karakalpakstan, which has close ties to Russia, occupies about two-quarters of western Uzbekistan. It is home to the Karakalpaks, a distinct ethnic minority that speaks one of the Turkic languages. Uzbekistan’s current constitution describes it as a sovereign republic with the right to secede by holding a referendum. Uzbekistan plans to hold a referendum in the coming months on a new version of the constitution, which will no longer mention Karakalpakstan’s sovereignty or right to secede. According to Uzbekistan’s interior ministry, “as a result of the misunderstanding of the constitutional reforms”, a group of Karakalpakstan residents marched through the capital of Nukus and held a rally in the city’s central market on Friday. The Karakalpakstan government said in a statement that the protesters tried to occupy government buildings, prompting police to intervene and arrest their leaders and those who actively resisted. Order was later restored in the province, which has a population of two million, authorities in Uzbekistan said.
Constitutional reforms
The changes regarding Karakalpakstan are part of broad constitutional reforms proposed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, which also include strengthening civil rights and extending the presidential term to seven years from five. If the referendum approves the reform, it will restore Mirziyoyev’s term count and allow him to run for two more terms. Mirziyoyev secured a second five-year term in October with a sweeping 80.1 percent of the vote. Zayniddin Nizamkhodjaev, chairman of the electoral commission, said the vote followed democratic standards. But observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Mirziyoyev’s reform agenda had yet to lead to a truly pluralistic environment. The 64-year-old faced four contenders loyal to his government. “While many candidates participated in the election, there was no meaningful engagement with each other or with voters, and candidates refrained from challenging or criticizing the incumbent,” the observer mission said in a statement. It also noted “significant procedural irregularities” on election day, adding that “important safeguards were often ignored during voting, counting and tabulation”. Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first to congratulate Mirziyoyev on his re-election, calling him even before Uzbek election officials announced preliminary results.
