The United States is closely following the trials that began today in Bukhara of 22 people accused of actions related to the tragic events in Karakalpakstan in July. The Embassy of the United States issued a statement:
“We urge the government to fulfill its commitments to public transparency and to hold members of the security forces accountable if they violated Uzbekistani law. We further call on the Ombudsperson-led investigative commission to release its findings as soon as possible.”
The United States reacted to the tragic events in Nukus in the first days of July. The State Department’s spokesman Ned Price then said that the United States supported the territorial integrity of Uzbekistan and called on the authorities to protect basic human rights, including peaceful assembly and expression. “We call on the authorities to conduct a full, credible and transparent investigation of cases of violence in accordance with international norms and best practices,” he said in his speech.
The European Union also called for an "open and independent investigation into the violent events in Karakalpakstan". In the EU, they also noted the quick reaction of the president regarding constitutional amendments, which caused disagreement among the population.
The President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the same days instructed to give a fair assessment of the actions of all participants in the event. If the power structures have exceeded force, they should also be held accountable, he said at the time.
The trial on the criminal case on the July events in Nukus opened on Monday, November 28, in the Bukhara province court.
