Independent commission reports on July 2022 Nukus events to parliament

On December 26, a joint session of the Councils of the Oliy Majlis Chambers heard the report of the commission investigating the facts and events of July 1–2, 2022, in Karakalpakstan.

The commission was established on July 15, 2022, by the Senate and the Legislative Chamber to conduct an independent investigation into the Nukus events. It was chaired by Ombudsman Feruza Eshmatova. The commission also included 14 deputies, senators, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and members of the public.

"The commission assessed the causes, chronology, and consequences of the events in Karakalpakstan, the actions of government bodies and law enforcement agencies in addressing the unrest, and monitored court sessions involving participants in the events," the report stated.

At the commission's request, 30 individuals under trial were released from custody in the courtroom. The commission conducted monitoring visits to detention centers where suspects were held and observed the social and economic changes implemented in Karakalpakstan following the events, according to the commission chair.

The commission members visited more than 50 government and non-governmental organizations, conducting interviews with 590 employees and 334 individuals who had served prison sentences.

Of the 168 individuals taken into custody in connection with criminal cases, 107 (including two women) were returned to their families at the commission's request.

The commission collaborated with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, and other international organizations. It also engaged with international non-governmental organizations and media outlets.

According to the commission, 943 participants in the events were issued warnings for committing violations, 6,135 were fined administratively, 2,639 were sentenced to administrative detention, and 61 were found guilty of crimes.

The report noted that the July 1–2, 2022, unrest resulted in severe injuries and deaths among citizens and law enforcement personnel, as well as significant material damage (6.8 billion UZS) to public and government property.

"To disperse and contain the unrest away from administrative buildings and to prevent attempts to seize administrative facilities and strategic sites, law enforcement agencies employed internationally accepted measures (such as water and colored liquid cannons and special tear gas grenades)," the report stated.

According to the commission, 21 individuals, including two law enforcement officers, lost their lives, and 413 were injured during the unrest (183 of whom were law enforcement officers).

The rights and legal interests of suspects, defendants, and detainees (including access to legal counsel, medical care, and telephone calls) were fully ensured during the investigation and trial processes. The opportunity to appeal court decisions was provided. All court proceedings were conducted openly and transparently, the report noted.

Additionally, three law enforcement officers were held criminally accountable for violating human rights and legal interests during the suppression of the unrest.

The commission issued several recommendations for Uzbekistan’s government bodies, including:

- Public Consultation and Awareness: Implement comprehensive measures to fully explain the content and mechanisms of citizen participation during the public discussion phase of decisions affecting state and societal life;

- Counteracting Disinformation: Establish a system to promptly respond to and address the dissemination of misleading or inaccurate information during the development and adoption of significant political and administrative decisions;

- Improving Regulations on Crowd Control: Regularly refine the normative documents governing the use of special tools and measures by law enforcement agencies during unrest, based on the experience of leading foreign countries;

- Promoting Public Order Awareness: Consistently explain the importance of observing public order and respecting others' rights during social activism.

It was reported that, based on the commission's findings, the Councils of the Oliy Majlis Chambers adopted a corresponding resolution.