Tomorrow, July 23, 2024 at 11 AM, the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan in Tashkent will review the revision appeal of Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, a Karakalpak human rights defender and lawyer. Tajimuratov was convicted for events on July 1-2 in Karakalpakstan following his arrest due to his opposition to proposed constitutional amendments that would undermine Karakalpakstan’s rights and sovereignty. He was unjustly sentenced to 16 years in a maximum-security prison as a result of political persecution for his activism.
D. Tajimuratov exercised his constitutional rights to freedom of thought, speech, and belief, expressing his views publicly through social networks, media, and at a general meeting of lawyers in Nukus. As a lawyer, he officially filed an application on June 30, 2022, to hold a peaceful rally to discuss the constitutional amendments, requesting permission for the rally on July 5, 2022. All his actions complied with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan.
Despite adhering to legal protocols, Tajimuratov was wrongfully charged with spreading information containing ideas of separatism and fundamentalism, organizing mass riots, conspiracy to seize power, embezzlement, and legalization of income obtained from criminal activities.
An article written by M. Zhumanazarova in 1990 and republished in 2022 in the newspaper “El Khyzmetinde” was unlawfully used as evidence of separatism. At the time of its original publication, Tajimuratov had no affiliation with the newspaper. The expert analysis made on the article was obviously ordered by the authorities and contains incompetent conclusions.
The investigation and court proceedings were marred by procedural violations. The expert examinations violated the requirements of the Criminal Procedure Code and the Law “On Judicial Expertise”. Experts unfamiliar with the Karakalpak language relied on poor translations into Uzbek.
Psychologist expert S. Nurkhujaev claimed Tajimuratov’s speech contained latent meanings contrary to his explicit statements. Experts alleged hidden calls to overthrow the government based on intonation, gestures, and facial expressions. However, evidence presented to the court proved Tajimuratov called for peaceful resolutions. Nurkhujaev also erroneously mentioned the debunked “25th frame effect”. This myth is about the idea that if there was a 25th frame, it would directly affect the subconscious, and hence could control the watcher.
Political science experts Musaev and Dustov concluded Tajimuratov’s statements contained calls for separatism and mass unrest without providing specific quotes. They claimed his words had latent meanings despite clear calls for peaceful actions.
Expert examinations were conducted in violation of the Law “On Judicial Expertise”. None of the experts knew the Karakalpak language, leading to distorted translations into Uzbek. In court, experts admitted the translations were inaccurate and could not substantiate their conclusions that Tajimuratov’s facial expressions and gestures indicated calls to overthrow the government and promote separatism.
The court of first instance sentenced Tajimuratov to imprisonment in a high-security colony based on erroneous data regarding his criminal record. His previous convictions were expunged by 2021, as confirmed by court decisions and Ministry of Internal Affairs records. Based on that, Tajimuratov must serve his sentence in a general regime colony.
Freedom for Eurasia urges the court and the Government of Uzbekistan to drop these absurd charges against Dauletmurat Tajimuratov and stop persecution for his activism. We call for his case to be revised with a commitment to justice and to rectify the procedural and judicial errors that resulted in his unjust conviction.
