The following is based on a communication written by the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders and other UN experts to the Government of Uzbekistan on 12 May 2025. The communication remained confidential for 60 days before being made public, giving the Government time to reply. The Government replied on 25 June 2025. Their response is currently being translated and will be examined.
Since the communication was sent, Dawletmurat Tajimuratov has remained in detention. New reports have emerged alleging that, on 29 April 2025, he was beaten by fellow inmates at the instruction of prison officials and subsequently denied adequate medical care.
This is a shorter version of the original communication.
BACKGROUND
Topic: the continued arbitrary detention of Mr. Dawletmurat Tajimuratov, along with allegations of ongoing and new violations of his human rights.
Mr. Dawletmurat Tajimuratov (Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov) is a Karakalpak human rights defender and lawyer. He is a prominent community leader in the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan in the northwest of Uzbekistan. Additionally, Mr. Tajimuratov has worked as an editor for the newspaper El Khyzmetinde (In the Service of the People). As part of his human rights work, he has advocated for the rights of the Karakalpak ethnic minority in Uzbekistan, particularly in summer 2022 in the context of proposed constitutional amendments that would have removed the Republic of Karakalpakstan’s autonomous status and its right to secede from Uzbekistan based on a referendum.
We previously wrote to the Government of Uzbekistan regarding the case of Mr. Tajimuratov on 2 August 2023 (AL UZB 2/2023) and 16 August 2024 (AL UZB 3/2024). We thank the Government for its replies dated 24 January 2024 and 12 November 2024. Additionally, at its 101st session, 11-15 November 2024, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention adopted opinion 62/2024 (A/HRC/WGAD/2024/62), in which it determined that Mr. Tajimuratov’s detention is arbitrary. The Government did not reply to the Working Group regarding this. Serious concerns regarding Mr. Tajimuratov’s situation remain.
ALLEGATIONS
Mr. Dawletmurat Tajimuratov was initially arrested on 1 July 2022, released several hours later, and re-arrested on 4 July 2022. He has remained in detention since. On 31 January 2023, Mr. Tajimuratov was sentenced by the Bukhara Regional Criminal Court to 16 years in prison. We note information in the Government’s reply of 24 January 2024 that he was found guilty of committing crimes under articles 159 (4) (breaches of the constitutional order), 167 (3) (a) (theft by misappropriation or embezzlement), 243 (money laundering), 244 (3) (sowing civil unrest), and 244-1 (3) (a), (b), and (d) (production, storage, circulation, or demonstration of material containing a threat to public security and public order) of the Uzbekistani Criminal Code. On 5 June 2023 and 23 July 2024, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan upheld his verdict on appeal.
According to the information provided to us, during the pre-trial stage and until losing his first appeal, Mr. Tajimuratov was kept in the following facilities: detention centre No. 11 in Urgench, detention centre No. 4 in Bukhara, and detention centre No. 1 in Zangiota district of Tashkent region, and around 20 June 2023, he was transferred to the penal colony No. 11 in Navoi, where he is currently serving his sentence.
Alleged violations in July 2022 – November 2024
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in its opinion 62/2024 concluded that Mr. Tajimuratov’s detention is arbitrary as it has no legal basis, the charges against him were linked to his exercise of the freedom of speech and the right to participate in the conduct of public affairs, his right to a fair trial and due process was violated, and his detention was discriminatory on the grounds of his political opinions and his Karakalpak ethnicity.
The Working Group opinion 62/2024 stated that after Mr. Tajimuratov’s arrest on 1 July 2022, a bag was placed over his head at the police station before he was taken to the Ministry of External Affairs, where he was allegedly beaten and shot with a stun gun. During the second arrest on 4 July 2022, officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs reportedly tied his hands behind his back, again placed a bag over his head, and beat him. He was forced onto a helicopter to Urgench, where he was made to lie on the floor while officials walked over him, at one point stomping on his head. As previously noted in communication AL UZB 2/2023, his whereabouts remained unknown for several days following this second arrest.
The Working Group opinion 62/2024 also stated that, while in pre-trial detention, Mr. Tajimuratov’s head was reportedly shaved, and he was harassed and intimidated by other detainees on the instructions of officials. As was stated in communication AL UZB 2/2023, he also reportedly suffered physical and psychological harassment by officers at the Urgench detention centre and was subjected to beatings and inhumane detention conditions.
The Working Group opinion 62/2024 also stated that, while serving his sentence at the penal colony No. 11 in Navoi, Mr. Tajimuratov received poor-quality food and medical care. Prison officials allegedly required him to express gratitude for anything he received, including food and basic necessities, denied information – such as the time of day, newspapers, radio, television, or educational materials – or contact with others, and punished him for refusing to sing the national anthem of Uzbekistan. As noted in communication AL UZB 3/2024, he also lacked clean drinking water and protective equipment while working in a lime factory, which reportedly affected his health.
We note the Government’s responses of 24 January 2024 and 12 November 2024 to the communications, in which it stated that no human rights violations occurred, citing inter alia internal investigations by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security Service and that Mr. Tajimuratov confirmed to the Commission of Inquiry that his rights had been respected. The Government of Uzbekistan further stated that relatives of those detained in connection with the Nukus protests were informed of their whereabouts. It clarified that detention conditions are as close as possible to international standards, drinking water filters are installed in penal institutions, inmates working with harmful substances receive free rinsing and neutralizing agents in addition to laundry soap, and as of November 2024 Mr. Tajimuratov’s health was stable.
However, new information suggests that Mr. Tajimuratov’s family only learned of his whereabouts in mid-July 2022, when he was able to make a phone call. The investigations of alleged violations of his rights allegedly lacked transparency. At some point, Mr. Tajimuratov allegedly sought access to evidence that could corroborate his claims – such as CCTV footage – but was reportedly denied. Contrary to the information in the Government’s responses, he allegedly notified the Commission of Inquiry about at least some alleged ill-treatment, particularly during the early stages of his detention. Furthermore, we note that any statements he may have made to the investigators or to the Commission of Inquiry were given while in detention and may have been influenced by fear of retaliation. He reportedly continues to be denied access to clean drinking water and remains exposed to hazardous conditions in the lime factory without adequate protective equipment. Additionally, a number of further concerns have been raised, as outlined below.
Alleged violations since November 2024
According to the information received, on 4 December 2024 at approximately 3.50 p.m. and on 16 December 2024 at approximately 8 a.m., officers at the penal colony No. 11 in Navoi subjected Mr. Tajimuratov to beatings. It is further alleged that an unknown substance was added to his food, causing dizziness and numbness. The exact date of this incident remains unknown. These acts reportedly followed his organisation of a peaceful protest by inmates calling for improved detention conditions.
On 28 March 2025, further reports emerged indicating that Mr. Tajimuratov was being subjected to “mental and physical torture.” According to these reports, certain inmates regularly beat him at the instruction of penal colony officials, reportedly in a manner that leaves no visible injuries. His personal writings – including, according to some sources, a diary documenting abuses – as well as other belongings, have reportedly been stolen. It is further alleged that penal colony officials encourage such thefts and intimidation by fellow inmates and fail to sanction those responsible.
Between 4 – 7 March 2025, during the first four days of a 10-day solitary confinement, guards reportedly seized Mr. Tajimuratov’s uneaten food before he could break his fast for Ramadan, resulting in him not eating for four consecutive days.
Regarding his detention conditions, it has been reported that, in addition to labour in a lime factory, Mr. Tajimuratov is also compelled to work in a coal plant without adequate protective equipment. His health reportedly deteriorated further in 2025. He is allegedly provided with a filthy mattress and bedding. As of the time of writing, he has reportedly been held in solitary confinement on at least three occasions – twice for refusing to sing the national anthem of Uzbekistan and once following an altercation with a prisoner alleged to have assaulted him.
Officials at the penal colony allegedly restrict and curtail visits from his family. For instance, a long visit that was planned for January 2025 was allegedly postponed until March 2025 and shortened from the expected three days to two without explanation. Telephone calls with his family have reportedly been delayed and shortened. Mr. Tajimuratov has also allegedly faced periodic denial of access to correspondence, with some letters to him withheld and others not forwarded to his family. Packages sent by his family are reportedly returned in whole or in part without clear justification.
Since November 2024, he has reportedly faced recurring threats of transfer to a stricter prison regime.
Mr. Tajimuratov is alleged to have made repeated attempts to submit complaints to the relevant authorities regarding various violations of his rights; however, these complaints are reportedly not transmitted by the penal colony. On 23 December 2024, he allegedly managed to submit a complaint with the assistance of his local counsel. It was addressed to several relevant government bodies, including the Office of the President, the Prosecutor General, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Navoi Regional Prosecutor, and the Human Rights Ombudsman. However, no action was reportedly taken to investigate, prosecute, or hold those responsible to account.
CONCERNS
In the communication, we express our concern regarding the ongoing arbitrary detention of Mr. Tajimuratov, repeatedly denounced to be connected to his work as a human rights defender and his exercise of freedom expression.
We are deeply concerned by allegations that investigations into past violations of his rights – reportedly committed between July 2022 and November 2024 – lacked transparency. We also note with concern reports that certain violations raised before are ongoing, including the denial of access to clean drinking water in detention and the absence of adequate protective equipment in the lime factory. In this regard, we are similarly concerned by allegations that sufficient protective equipment is not being provided for his work in a coal plant.
In addition, we are concerned by new allegations regarding beatings, introduction of an unknown substance into Mr. Tajimuratov’s food, theft of his personal belongings, intimidation, seizure of food prior to the breaking of his fast during Ramadan, provision of unsanitary bedding and mattress, and repeated placement in solitary confinement.
We are further concerned by reports of restricted and curtailed visits and telephone contact with family, as well as periodic denial of access to correspondence and unwarranted restrictions on the receipt of packages.
We are deeply concerned that, in the context of numerous alleged violations, some of his complaints have reportedly not been transmitted by the penal colony to the relevant authorities, while at least one other has allegedly not been acted upon.
We are also concerned by reports indicating a further deterioration of his health in 2025.
We call upon the Government to comply with the decision of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to release Mr. Tajimuratov and to accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations. In the meantime, we urge the Government to immediately guarantee his safety and security, ensure conditions of detention consistent with international standards, conduct a thorough and independent investigation into all alleged violations of his rights, and to hold those responsible accountable.
