On 9th October 2024, during the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference organized by OSCE/ODIHR, Freedom for Eurasia held an important side event titled “Defending Dignity: Addressing the Human Rights Crisis and Transnational Repression of Karakalpak Activists in Uzbekistan.”
The event brought together experts to highlight the pressing human rights violations and challenges faced by Karakalpak activists in Uzbekistan and abroad.
During the side event several incidents occurred that require clarification and inbvetsigation by the OSCE/ODIHR.
Unauthorized Brochures
At the event, brochures were distributed by GONGOs organized by Uzbek delegation using the Freedom for Eurasia logo. Freedom For Eurasia does not know who printed these materials, and they were not verified by the OSCE/ODIHR conference organizers. Freedom for Eurasia does not take responsibility for the content and distribution of these brochures.
The same GONGO’s smeared and verbally attacked the speakers and HRD’s presenting the Karakalpak topic at the conference during the conference plenary sessions.
Incident with a Participant in a face veil
During the side event, the official delegation of Uzbekistan requested the removal of a woman whose face was covered, arguing that unidentified participants should not be present at the event. Freedom for Eurasia notes that it does not have information about the identity of the woman at the side event, but emphasizes that all participants of the conference were previously verified and registered by the organizers-OSCE/ODIHR. Freedom for Eurasia operates in full compliance with the rules established by OSCE/ODIHR and does not have the authority to deny participation to registered conference attendees. Additionally, unknown individuals distributed flyers with a photograph of a Karakalpak woman activist, along with her name and surname, claiming this was the participant in question. Freedom for Eurasia condemns actions of targeting a civil society activist and a partiicpant of the conference. Such behaviour is unacceptable and poses a risk to the safety of conference participants.
The Head of the United States Delegation at the WHDC Ambassador Michael G. Kozak made a statement during the Closing Session of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference on October 11, 2024 in which he pointed out the great risks taken by the NGOs and human rights defenders who have participated in this conference despite the risk of retaliation against them and their families back home. He called such retribution – a blatant case of transnational repression.
Ambassador Kozak further stated:
Sadly, we have witnessed verbal attacks against a number of NGOs made by GONGOs and government delegations during the conference sessions. NGOs have been accused of crimes and in some cases their personal information has been given out. In other cases, GONGOs have filmed NGOs in side-events without their permission. This can be seen as a threat. Participants should not be threatened by other participants. GONGOs were handing out flyers in an apparent attempt to dissuade attendance at an NGO side-event.
To the many GONGOs who have participated in this conference and the governments that put you up to it, you are not fooling anyone.
Freedom for Eurasia calls on all parties to respect the safety and rights of conference participants to open or cover their faces and opposes any actions that may endanger their safety and well-being.
Key Issues Discussed on the Side Event:
– Human Rights Violations: The panel provided an overview of the dire situation for Karakalpak activists, highlighting documented cases of torture, forced disappearances, and wrongful imprisonment.
– Transnational Repressions: Speakers explored how Uzbekistan has used transnational tactics to suppress dissent, targeting Karakalpak activists even outside of the country’s borders.
– Unlawful Extradition Requests: The event discussed the legal aspects of extradition, particularly the unjust actions taken against Karakalpak activists facing persecution under dubious charges.
– Ethnocide and Discrimination: The panel addressed the cultural, social, and political discrimination faced by the Karakalpak people, shedding light on the violation of their rights as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
– Political Participation: Discussions emphasized the Karakalpak people’s right to political participation, outlining strategies for advocacy and reform to ensure their voices are heard.
Speakers:
Leila Nazgul Seiitbek – Chairwoman of “Freedom for Eurasia” and a human rights advocate from Kyrgyzstan, now in Austria after being granted asylum in 2021. She is at the forefront of documenting human rights abuses and corruption in Eurasia.
Koshkarbay Toremuratov – A civil rights activist and founder of “Karakalpak.info” and the YouTube channel “PIKIR”, which discussed political repression and Karakalpak rights. His channel was blocked at the request of Uzbek authorities, and he himself was imprisoned on false charges in 2014.
Michael Laubsch – Director of EU Advocacy at “Freedom for Eurasia” with a background in political science and Eastern European history. He has also served as a foreign affairs advisor at the German Parliament.
Denis Zhivaga (via Zoom) – Director of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law, specializing in refugee and asylum law. He has handled cases of Karakalpak activists facing extradition.
Evgenii Zhovtis (via Zoom) – A prominent Kazakhstan human rights lawyer, his organization of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law has supported asylum seekers and defended Karakalpak activists from unjust extradition.
Mihra Rittman (via Zoom) – Senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, focusing on human rights issues in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, including freedom of speech, assembly, and association.
Freedom for Eurasia is grateful to the moderator of the side event Maryia Kvitsinskaya, Human Rights Adviser for Europe and Central Asia, World Organisation Against Torture. With a decade of experience in national and international human rights organizations, she has focused on gross human rights violations and violations of international humanitarian law and international criminal law in Ukraine, Belarus, and Central Asia. From 2014 to 2019, Maryia worked as an investigator and legal adviser on ICL violations related to the armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine, occupied Crimea, and gross human rights violations in Belarus.
