EU–Uzbekistan: Respect for Human Rights Must Be a Precondition for Partnership

The Association for Human Rights in Central Asia (AHRCA), Central Asia Due Diligence (CADD), the human rights group “Open Line”, and the public channel “World and Politics”, founded by independent journalist and former prisoner of conscience Yusuf Ruzimuradov, call for the necessity of placing human rights issues at the core of the agenda during the visit of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Brussels on 24 October 2025, when the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Uzbekistan and the European Union is expected to take place.

Conditions for Justice

Nine years have passed since Shavkat Mirziyoyev, upon assuming the presidency of Uzbekistan, announced the launch of large-scale legal reforms. However, Uzbekistan’s judiciary remains effectively under the President’s control and is dependent on the executive branch. Despite the adoption of new laws and amendments, the situation in practice has not changed: a profound gap persists between the letter of the law and its implementation. The results of any monitoring of the enforcement of legislation, if such monitoring is conducted at all, remain inaccessible to the public.

Our analysis shows that, on the eve of the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), the authorities of Uzbekistan continue to simulate reforms without ensuring genuine rule of law. The judiciary remains a tool of political pressure, while the proclaimed “legal reforms” fail to guarantee the protection of human rights.

Our monitoring has revealed the following trends:

— Widespread use of trials in absentia and closed court proceedings;

— Frequent classification of criminal cases as “secret”, especially when evidence of guilt is weak, questionable, or involves high-ranking officials;

— Lack of effective appeal mechanisms in administrative courts, particularly in cases involving critics of the government or civil society activists;

— Lawyers are often reduced to a formal role, while many face pressure or intimidation aimed at forcing them to withdraw from effectively defending their clients;

— Citizen complaints submitted via the Presidential online portal are merely registered and redirected to the very state bodies accused of rights violations, effectively denying access to justice;

— Prosecutors and courts address complaints from victims of politically motivated persecution in a purely formal manner, without proper investigations;

— Uzbek citizens living abroad, including refugees, continue to be deprived of effective avenues for fair review of their cases or redress for politically motivated persecution;

— Acquittals remain extremely rare;

— Even those officially rehabilitated are unable to reclaim confiscated property or obtain compensation;

— Re-examination of the cases of former political prisoners has not begun, and officials responsible for fabricated charges and the use of torture remain unpunished;

— Smear campaigns against and total surveillance of independent activists persist, as regularly reported by human rights defenders Tatiana Dovlatova, Klara Sakharova, Olga Abdullaeva, Elena Urlaeva, Solmaz Akhmedova, Agzam Turgunov and others;

— Punitive psychiatry continues to be practiced. Since 2023, lawyer, human rights defender and blogger Shakhida Salomova has been held in compulsory psychiatric detention, and blogger Valijon Kalonov has been under forced treatment since December 2021;

— Lawyer and blogger Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov has been subjected to unprecedented pressure and torture. He was sentenced to 16 years in prison for his peaceful participation in the 2022 mass protests in Karakalpakstan. His civic stance and commitment to defending the rights of the Karakalpak people continue to be treated as a criminal offenses in Uzbekistan;

— No conditions exist for the legal operation of human rights organizations monitoring civil, political, and social rights, as the Ministry of Justice systematically denies them registration. For example, human rights defender Agzam Turgunov has submitted registration documents for his NGO “Human Rights House” over ten times, yet the Ministry of Justice has repeatedly denied registration without justification;

— The political party “Truth and Progress” has twice been denied registration, citing an insufficient number of signatures—an assertion refuted by activists. The party’s leader Khidirnazar Allakulov and his supporters face ongoing pressure, including online bullying, surveillance, blocking of communication channels, and refusal of premises for meetings.

Politically Motivated Persecution Continues

Former political prisoners in Uzbekistan continue to face discrimination and social marginalization. Almost all of them were subjected to torture, ill-treatment, and humiliation during the rule of Islam Karimov. Those who have spoken publicly about their experiences report ongoing pressure from the security services, often extending to their family members.

Many of them still lack access to their criminal case files — either because the 25-year limitation period has expired or due to their inability to afford legal representation. They continue to suffer from dire physical and psychological consequences of torture and ill treatment.

Our findings are consistent with monitoring results on the cases of activists who were qualified as political prisoners in the European Parliament resolutions of 2009 and 2014. None of them have had their convictions, obtained under torture or through forced confessions, formally overturned. Among them are: former members of parliament Samandar Kukanov (b. 1945), Rustam Usmanov (b. 1948), and Murad Juraev (1952–2017); members of the Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan Mehriniso Hamdamova (b. 1960), Zulhumor Hamdamova (b. 1969), Gaybullo Jalilov (b. 1964), Zafardjon Rahimov (b. 1968), Yuldash Rasulov (b. 1969); member of the Ezgulik Human Rights Society Isroiljon Kholdorov (b. 1951); members of the Mazlum Human Rights Center Agzam Turgunov (b. 1951), Fahriddin Tillaev (b. 1971), Nuraddin Jumaniyazov (1948–2016); member of the Committee for the Protection of Individual Rights Ganikhon Mamatkhanov (b. 1951); independent journalist Solidzhon Abdurakhmanov (1950–2025); editor of the Erk newspaper Muhammad Bekjanov (b. 1954) and correspondent Yusuf Ruzimuradov (b. 1964); Irmoq magazine staff members Botirbek Eshkuziev (b. 1978), Bahrom Ibragimov (b. 1977), Davron Kabilov (b. 1973), Davron Todzhiev (b. 1981), and Ravshanbek Vafoev (b. 1971); witness of the Andijan events of 2005 Dilorom Abduqodirova (b. 1966); and Erkin Musaev (b. 1967), former UN employee and former officer of the Ministry of Defense.

Abuses in the Spheres of Justice, Freedom, and Security

Over the past three years, the Uzbek authorities have increasingly place citizens living abroad — those who openly criticize the authorities for human rights violations or comment on cases of repression and torture — on international wanted lists based on fabricated and politically motivated criminal charges.

Such practices undermine confidence in Uzbekistan’s judicial system, as they demonstrate the absence of genuine guarantees of fair trial, independent oversight, and accountability mechanisms. If unaddressed, this policy could also create serious reputational risks for the European Union.

Return to the Practice of Forced Labour

The use of forced labour in cotton production has re-emerged. As before, the campaigns are coordinated by regional and district hokims (governors), who forcibly mobilize teachers and public-sector employees to participate in seasonal fieldwork.

Our Recommendations to the European Union

Within the framework of cooperation between the EU and Uzbekistan, we urge the European Union to:

• Include respect for human rights and the rule of law among the binding conditions for the signing and implementation of the EPCA;

• Raise the case of Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov and other political prisoners in the agenda of the EU–Uzbekistan political dialogue;

• Make the release of all persons imprisoned on politically motivated charges a precondition for any deepening of partnership with Uzbekistan.

We Call on the Authorities of Uzbekistan to:

• End restrictions on the work of human rights defenders and ensure safe conditions for their independent monitoring activities;

• Remove politically motivated obstacles to the registration of human rights organizations, in particular the NGO “Human Rights House” led by Agzam Turgunov;

• Guarantee genuine conditions for the registration and operation of opposition political parties, ensuring freedom of association and political pluralism in line with Uzbekistan’s international human rights obligations;

• Cease surveillance, harassment, and other forms of persecution against independent journalists, activists, and human rights defenders;

• Review the case of lawyer and blogger Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov, sentenced to 16 years in prison for his peaceful participation in the 2022 protests in Karakalpakstan;

• Conduct an independent, transparent, and impartial investigation into the events of 1–2 July 2022 in Karakalpakstan;

• Ensure compliance with Uzbekistan’s international human rights obligations, including the rights to freedom of expression, assembly, and protection from torture;

• End the misuse of international search and extradition mechanisms under Interpol, the CIS, and the SCO for politically motivated purposes;

• Establish effective national mechanisms for legal redress to restore the rights of former political prisoners and Uzbek citizens who have refugee status abroad;

• Eradicate the practice of forced labour in the cotton sector through genuine reform and by granting farmers real economic freedoms, including the right to make autonomous decisions regarding the use of their land.