UN Expert Calls for Release of Human Rights Defender in Uzbekistan

A United Nations human rights expert has issued an urgent call for the government of Uzbekistan to ensure the safety of human rights defender and lawyer Dawletmurat Tajimuratov. The expert, Mary Lawlor, who serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, emphasized the need for his immediate release from detention. This appeal follows reports of ongoing challenges regarding his treatment while in custody. Tajimuratov has been a prominent advocate for the rights of the Karakalpak ethnic minority in Uzbekistan. His legal work and activism gained significant attention during the summer of 2022 when he publicly opposed proposed constitutional amendments. These amendments sought to alter the autonomous status of the Republic of Karakalpakstan and its right to secede from the nation. In January 2023, a court sentenced Tajimuratov to 16 years in prison, a decision that has faced repeated scrutiny from international rights organizations. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention previously determined in November 2024 that his continued imprisonment is arbitrary. Recent allegations suggest that Tajimuratov has been subjected to torture and ill-treatment while incarcerated. Reports indicate that he was placed in a cold punishment cell for 15 days in late 2025, raising further alarms about his physical and mental well-being. The situation of human rights defenders in Uzbekistan has remained a point of discussion for international observers. While the government has engaged in various international partnerships, including an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement with the European Union, critics argue that domestic rights protections have not kept pace. Human Rights Watch and other groups have documented a pattern of pressure against activists, bloggers, and independent journalists. These individuals often face unfounded criminal charges, such as accusations of insulting the president online. Some activists have also reported being subjected to forced psychiatric detention or harassment by local authorities. The government of Uzbekistan has maintained that it is working to improve its legal framework and human rights practices. However, independent monitors continue to call for greater transparency and the protection of fundamental freedoms. The case of Tajimuratov remains a central example of the tensions between state security policies and the rights of individuals to express dissent. International bodies continue to monitor the situation closely, urging the authorities to uphold international standards of justice and human dignity.