The joint decision of the councils of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis dated July 15, 2022, led by the Ombudsman F. Eshmatova, formed a commission consisting of 14 deputies, senators, non-governmental organizations, and community representatives to study the events that occurred in Karakalpakstan, the information of the commission was reviewed at the joint meeting of the chambers' councils of the Parliament.
The commission assessed the causes, chronology, and consequences of the events in Karakalpakstan, the actions of state agencies and law enforcement in quelling mass disorders, observed court sessions regarding participants of the events, 30 convicts were released from the courthouse by the request of the commission, conducted monitoring visits to pre-trial detention centers holding convicts, and also followed the socio-economic changes implemented in Karakalpakstan after the events.
Throughout its activity, the commission positively resolved more than 600 appeals from citizens. During visits to more than 50 state and non-governmental organizations, the commission communicated with 590 employees, 334 individuals who have served their sentences.
A total of 168 individuals detained before trial within the framework of criminal cases, including 107 individuals (2 women) were returned to their families upon the request of the Commission.
The commission collaborated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, and other international organizations, as well as maintained communication with international non-governmental organizations and mass media.
The activities of the commission were fully announced on the internet via the “Independent Commission_uz”official page on the social network “Telegram” (in Uzbek, Karakalpak, and Russian languages).
Of the participants in the events in Karakalpakstan, 943 were warned for committing violations, 6 135 were fined administratively, 2 639 received administrative arrest, and it was noted that 61 committed crimes.
As a result of the disorders, severe bodily injuries and deaths of citizens and law enforcement officers, as well as significant material damage to the property of citizens and state institutions amounting to (6.8 billion UZS) were reported.
Law enforcement agencies used internationally practiced means (water and colored liquid spraying equipment, tear-inducing special grenades) to distance and disperse mass disorders from administrative buildings, and to prevent attempts to seize administrative buildings and strategic objects.
During the mass disorders, 21 citizens, including 2 law enforcement officers, died and 413 people were injured (of which 183 are law enforcement officers).
The rights and legitimate interests (lawyer, medical aid, phone calls, etc.) of suspects, accused, and convicts involved in the investigation and court proceedings were fully ensured, and the opportunity to appeal against court decisions was provided. All court processes were noted to be conducted openly and transparently.
Meanwhile, 3 members of the internal affairs bodies who allowed violations of human rights and their legitimate interests during the process of suppressing mass disorders were subject to criminal liability.
Based on the above, the commission recommended the following to state authorities:
– to implement comprehensive measures to fully explain the essence and mechanisms of participation in the stage of public discussion during the process of adopting important decisions related to state and public life in the future;
– to establish a system for timely effective response to instances of dissemination of potentially false, misleading, and biased information (disinformation) during the process of developing and adopting significant political and managing decisions at all levels of state power;
– to consistently explain the importance of respecting the rights of others and adhering to public order while citizens exercise their social activities;
– to carry out continuous preventive and explanatory measures aimed at preventing negative behaviors that pose a threat to public safety in populated and recreational areas;
– to regularly improve normative documents on the use of special means and dispersion of violators by law enforcement agencies in line with leading foreign countries' practices.
Following the review of the commission's report, the relevant decision of the chambers' councils of the Oliy Majlis was adopted.
