Documents on Uzbekistan | Human Rights Watch

Turkmenistan/Uzbekistan: Abuses in International Spotlight

Press release
Apr 22, 2013

Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan’s highly repressive policies are coming up for rare international scrutiny on April 22 and 24, 2013. United Nations member countries gathering at the Human Rights Council in Geneva under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) procedure should seize the opportunity to expose and denounce the ongoing repression in both countries and press for concrete steps to end abuses.
Universal Periodic Review: HRW Submission on Uzbekistan - Submitted in October 2012

Written statement
Apr 19, 2013
Cotton Campaign Letter to US Secretary of State John Kerry

Letter
Apr 16, 2013

The Cotton Campaign is a global coalition of companies, human rights NGOs, industry associations, investors and trade unions dedicated to ending forced labor in the cotton sector of Uzbekistan.
Russia: Worker Exploited on Olympic Venues is Detained

Press release
Apr 11, 2013

The Russian authorities have unlawfully detained a migrant construction worker who was seeking to file a complaint for nonpayment of wages on Olympic venues in Sochi.
Uzbekistan: Kerry Should Raise Rights Abuses at Talks

Press release
Mar 7, 2013

US Secretary of State John Kerry should publicly express concern about Uzbekistan’s deteriorating human rights situation during his meeting with the Uzbek foreign minister on March 12, 2013, and press for concrete improvements, Human Rights Watch said today.
Kyrgyzstan: Locate Missing Uzbek Refugee

Press release
Feb 25, 2013

An Uzbek refugee has been missing from Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, since February 18, 2013.
Kyrgyzstan: Stop Extradition to Uzbekistan

Press release
Feb 4, 2013

An appeals court in Bishkek should stop the extradition of a former Imam to Uzbekistan, where he would be at serious risk of torture.
Human Rights Watch Letter to the Prosecutor General of Kyrgyzstan

Letter
Feb 1, 2013
Central Asia: Widespread Rights Abuse, Repression

Press release
Jan 31, 2013

Kazakh and Uzbek authorities intensified persecution of outspoken government critics in 2012, while none of the five Central Asian governments seriously tackled longstanding, grave human rights abuses, such as widespread impunity for torture.
Uzbekistan: Forced Labor Widespread in Cotton Harvest

Press release
Jan 25, 2013

Uzbek authorities have increased the use of forced labor by adults and older children in the cotton sector during the past year. The move was apparently made to shift the burden away from younger children in response to public scrutiny and international pressure.
Tweets can't hide Uzbekistan's woeful record

Commentary
Jan 25, 2013

Recent Twitter conversations between the wannabe-jet-set daughter of Uzbekistan’s authoritarian ruler and critics of the country’s atrocious human rights record may have been unusual and amusing. They may have even brought a rare blip of international media attention to a reclusive regime the world normally seems happy to ignore.
Russia: Investigate Death Threats Against Defender

Press release
Jan 21, 2013

Russian authorities should investigate death threats against Vitalii Ponomarev, the lead Central Asia expert with Memorial Human Rights Center. The investigation should be prompt and comprehensive, and Russia should seek cooperation from Uzbek authorities to ensure its thoroughness.
Uzbekistan: Effective EU Rule of Law Programmes Depend on a Principled Human Rights Policy

Commentary
Jan 17, 2013
Barack Obama: Dump These 8 Unsavory Allies

Commentary
Jan 2, 2013

If Obama wants to bolster his legacy in his second term, he can and should get tough on some of the United States' most unsavory friends and allies. Here are eight leaders to start with.