Freedom for Eurasia expresses grave concern over the continued psychological and physical abuse of Karakalpak human rights defender and journalist Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, currently serving a 16-year sentence in Penal Colony No. 11 in Navoi Region, Uzbekistan. On March 24, 2025, attorney Sergey Mayorov met with Dauletmurat Tajimuratov and reported alarming details of his treatment below is a transcript of the statement made by attorney Sergey Mayorov in the video message shared publicly by him.
I, attorney Sergey Mayorov, on March 28, 2025, wish to report on the condition of my client, Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, who, following a 2022 court verdict, is serving a 16-year prison sentence in Penal Colony No. 11 in Navoi Region.
On March 24, 2025, I met with Dauletmurat in the colony and received information about his imprisonment and the conditions he endures. I believe it is essential to share this with his relatives, friends, public organizations, media outlets, and international bodies concerned with the fate of this national hero of Karakalpakstan.
Despite three judicial instances upholding the verdict, Dauletmurat achieved a significant outcome: the preservation of the Republic of Karakalpakstan’s sovereignty, enshrined in the Constitutions of both Karakalpakstan and Uzbekistan.
This appeal is directed not only to those interested in his fate but also to the Ombudsman of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the prosecutor overseeing Penal Colony No. 11, and the colony’s administration.
According to Dauletmurat, he is subjected to both psychological and physical torture.
Each morning, approximately 500 inmates are assembled and required to sing the national anthem of Uzbekistan. Dauletmurat refuses to comply, viewing this as coerced. He also declines to recite a pledge demanded by the administration, wherein inmates must admit guilt and seek forgiveness from various entities. There is no legal obligation for him to perform these acts.
In the dining hall, the administration expects inmates to express gratitude to the cooks and organizers, which is not mandated by law. Dauletmurat also refuses to participate in singing patriotic songs, as this is not a legal requirement.
For his non-compliance, the administration exerts pressure through so-called “activists” – inmates collaborating with the authorities. These individuals regularly beat Dauletmurat, ensuring no visible marks are left.
Additionally, his personal notes and belongings are confiscated by order of the colony’s operatives. He faces obstacles in exercising his right to phone calls: his requests are delayed, and during conversations, operatives can abruptly terminate the call.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Dauletmurat was placed in solitary confinement for 10 days for allegedly attacking an activist. From March 4 to 7, he was deprived of the opportunity to eat during permitted hours, as meals were delivered during the day and removed in the evening. Only from the fifth day was he allowed to keep food overnight.
Moreover, Dauletmurat is provided with a dirty, foul-smelling mattress and blanket at night, aiming to break his spirit.
On March 24, I informed a colony official about these violations. Dauletmurat attempts to appeal to various state bodies for the protection of his rights, but his complaints do not leave the colony. The mechanism to monitor and safeguard his rights is ineffective.
According to established regulations, areas where inmates are held, especially operational rooms, should be equipped with surveillance cameras. However, in Penal Colony No. 11, these cameras are absent, allowing the administration to perpetrate torture and abuse without accountability.
Regrettably, altering the court’s decision is currently unfeasible. However, the President possesses the authority to grant clemency to Dauletmurat, even without his request. I urge the President to alleviate the plight of this remarkable individual, who ensured the sovereignty of the Republic of Karakalpakstan remained enshrined in the Constitutions.
Freedom for Eurasia remains committed to monitoring this case and advocating for the rights of all individuals subjected to political repression in Karakalpakstan.
