President Karimov continued term notwithstanding constitutional requirement of mandate renewal on 22 January; new elections due December 2007. More restrictive controls over media came into effect 15 January.

EU delegation visited 11-15 December to investigate May 2005 Andijon events, but only spent 4 hours in town. Meetings with civil society representatives cancelled due to time constraints. Rights activists elsewhere said authorities placed them under house arrest to block contact. Tashkent court sentenced 2 men to 7-9 years for suspected membership in Wahhabi movement; rights activists criticised trial.

EU, after intense debate, continued arms embargo and travel ban on senior Uzbek officials imposed following 2005 Andijon events, but announced resumption of bilateral “technical meetings” with aim of promoting dialogue on human rights. Alleged Hizb ut-Tahrir regional leader Komiljon Usmonov sentenced to 10 years. Tensions with Tajikistan underlined after Tajik border guard shot dead Uzbek guard 16 November and Uzbek military court sentenced 3 women and 2 men to 15-20 year prison terms for spying for Tajikistan.

President Karimov dismissed governor of Andijon, laying partial blame for 2005 unrest on his neglect of population’s grievances; Ferghana governor also sacked. In Jizzakh region, journalist Ulughbek Haidarov sentenced to 6 years prison on extortion charges activists say are politically motivated; fellow journalist Jamshid Karimov (nephew of president) reportedly ordered into psychiatric hospital for 6 months. EU appeared set to ease sanctions imposed on regime after Andijon unrest: European officials to meet Uzbek counterparts in November before member states decide whether to renew.

Clampdown on dissidents continued. Prominent imam Fakhrutdinov sentenced 17 years for heading Tashkent branch of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Trial of alleged Hizb ut-Tahrir leader Usmanov began 21 September; 7 further HuT members sentenced up to 13 years. In Jizzakh, journalist and rights activist Ulughbek Haidarov arrested on extortion charges, journalist Jamshid Karimov (nephew of president) reportedly confined to mental institution, and prominent activist Hamroev’s son jailed 3 years for “hooliganism”. Dissident poet Hasanov given 3-year suspended sentence for song about 2005 Andijon uprising. Rights groups condemned UNESCO prize to president in light of rights violations.

Russia suspended extradition of 13 refugees who fled after 2005 Andijon uprising, pending appeals to European Court of Human Rights. UNHCR condemned Kyrgyzstan’s return to Uzbekistan of 5 asylum-seekers. Activists said 4 more refugees disappeared from Osh and 2 then appeared in Andijon detention; Uzbek government denied involvement. 53 of 150 Andijon refugees in U.S. returned to Uzbekistan in July and August under unclear circumstances. 14 suspected Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT) members sentenced to 7-12 years prison on religious extremism charges; 3 Tashkent residents also on trial for HuT membership. Crackdown on civil society continued as dissident website closed down and 3 U.S. NGOs faced closure.

Authorities detained Tajik citizen accused of spying and planning assassinations. Vladimir Norov named new Foreign Minister. 9 refugees who fled after 2005 Andijon massacre returned, reportedly voluntarily, to Uzbekistan from U.S. 6 suspected of involvement in Andijon uprising arrested in Kyrgyzstan 18 July. Court ordered closure of 2 U.S. NGOs.

Authorities accused by Tajik border guards of sheltering rebels and refusing to demarcate minefields. 4 Uzbek citizens sentenced in Tajik court for spying, while Uzbek authorities reportedly arrested a Tajik on similar charge. Senior opposition Birlik party activist Mamarazhab Nazarov arrested 22 June, reportedly on fraud charges. Clampdown on foreign NGOs continued; President Karimov authorised increased penalties for inciting ethnic or religious hatred, citing some religious groups’ “aggressive proselytizing activities”. Jailed opposition leader Sanjar Umarov reported in disciplinary cell, prompting concerns about detention conditions.

Anniversary of 2005 Andijan massacre marked by demonstrations outside country including by exiles on Kyrgyz side of border 3 May. Government released video depicting event as Islamic militant uprising; EU condemned continuing resistance to independent inquiry. Court rejected appeal by rights activist Mutabar Tojiboyeva, arrested after Andijan, against 8-year sentence. Opposition activist Nodira Hidoyatova released from prison after sentence suspended.

OSCE report called for retrial of people accused of Andijon uprising, saying 2005 trials of 15 men unfair. Court reduced sentence of jailed opposition leader Sanjar Umarov, but activists said Umarov appeared forcibly drugged at appeal trial. UN said systematic torture by government continued. UNHCR left country after being expelled by government in March.