Uzbekistan has declared a month-long state of emergency in an autonomous republic where rare protests have forced President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to reverse some constitutional reforms. President Mirziyoyev’s press secretary Sherzod Asadov wrote on Telegram on Saturday that the state of emergency in the Republic of Karakalpakstan will last from shortly after midnight on Sunday (19:00 GMT Saturday) until August 2. The measure was taken to “ensure the safety of citizens, protect their rights and freedoms (and) restore law and order” in the territory, the statement added.
Uzbekistan’s president had arrived in Karakalpakstan on Saturday and promised that proposed constitutional amendments that would have weakened the territory’s status would be scrapped. A rally on Friday was called to protest constitutional reform plans that would change the status of Karakalpakstan, an autonomous republic that is home to the Karakalpak people – an ethnic minority with its own language, Uzbek authorities said. Police dispersed protesters after some tried to storm local government buildings in the regional capital, Nukus, following a march and rally in the city’s central market, local and government officials said. According to the current constitution of Uzbekistan, Karakalpakstan is described as a sovereign republic within Uzbekistan and has the right to secede by holding a referendum. The new version of the constitution – on which Uzbekistan plans to hold a public vote in the coming months – will no longer mention Karakalpakstan’s sovereignty or right to secede. But in a swift reaction to the protest, Mirziyoyev said on Saturday during a visit to Karakalpakstan that changes to his status should be eliminated from the proposed reform, his office said in a statement. The Karakalpakstan government said in a statement earlier Saturday that police had arrested the leaders of Friday’s demonstration and several other protesters who put up resistance. A joint statement by the republic’s police, parliament and cabinet said “provocateurs” tried to “seize state institutions… divide society and destabilize the socio-political situation in Uzbekistan.” “A group of organizers of mass riots and people who actively resisted law enforcement agencies were arrested. Investigative actions are being conducted against them,” the statement said, blaming a “criminal group” for the unrest. The changes regarding Karakalpakstan were part of a wider constitutional reform proposed by Mirziyoyev, which also includes strengthening civil rights and extending the presidential term to seven years from five. If the reform is approved in the planned referendum, it will restore Mirziyoyev’s term count and allow him to run for two more terms.
