CrisisWatch is our global conflict tracker, an early warning tool designed to help prevent deadly violence. It keeps decision-makers up-to-date with developments in over 70 conflicts and crises every month, identifying trends and alerting them to risks of escalation and opportunities to advance peace. In addition, CrisisWatch monitors over 50 situations (“standby monitoring”) to offer timely information if developments indicate a drift toward violence or instability. Entries dating back to 2003 provide easily searchable conflict histories.
President Mirziyoyev 5 Dec hosted visit by Afghan President Ghani; signed twenty documents related to economic partnership and infrastructure enhancements; discussed terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and need for increased security on Hairaton Bridge connecting their countries. Uzbekistan and Russia 29 Dec signed nuclear cooperation agreement. President Mirziyoyev 30 Nov signed decree forbidding recognition of confession obtained under torture as legal evidence; 6 Dec announced he supports work of Human Rights Watch. In 22 Dec address to parliament broadcast live on state TV, Mirziyoyev vowed to continue reforms in governance and other areas. Mirziyoyev 19 Dec spoke to U.S. president by phone, discussed reform agenda and cooperation. Parliament 7 Dec passed first reading of bill easing registration for mass media and granting them tax exemptions. Following investigation by International Labor Organization, UN 12 Dec stated child labour no longer systematically used on cotton farms in Uzbekistan, and country taking measures to end use of forced labour among adults.
PM Abdulla Aripov and his Russian counterpart 2-3 Nov signed cooperation agreements on industry, finance, and peaceful research and utilisation of nuclear energy; also signed agreements on bilateral military technological cooperation, making Uzbekistan only non-Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) country allowed to purchase Russian arms at Russian domestic prices. Foreign ministers of five Central Asian states 10 Nov signed Program on Mutual Cooperation for 2018-2019 outlining joint efforts on security, trade and economic cooperation during EU-Central Asia summit in Uzbekistan. Ahead of summit, EU foreign policy chief Mogherini emphasised Central Asia’s strategic importance for EU, and latter’s concern for human rights in region. Uzbek, Kazakh and Turkmen foreign ministers same day signed agreement on border intersection point of three countries; enclaves and related issues not raised.
Govt early Oct released long-jailed journalist Salijon Abdurakhmanov and human rights defender Azamjon Farmonov, however also made arrests of several journalists and a rights activist. Uzbek and Tajik defence ministers met for first time since dissolution of Soviet Union (see Tajikistan). Uzbek national suspected of truck attack in New York killing eight people 31 Oct, reportedly claimed to have carried out attack on behalf of Islamic State (ISIS).
FM Abdulaziz Kamilov 7 Sept met Human Rights Watch representatives in Tashkent, first visit since its ban in 2011.
During EU-Uzbekistan council in Brussels (first since 2015), Foreign Minister Kamilov 17 July reported delegation from Human Rights Watch, whose office in country was suspended in 2011, due to visit country in August, said other human rights organisations will be allowed to visit. Prosecutor general 28 July said late President Karimov’s daughter Gulnara, rumoured to have been under house arrest since 2015, is in custody and faces new charges including money laundering as well as ongoing investigation.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’as al-Hussein visited Tashkent 10-12 May, first time govt has allowed UN high commissioner visit to country; met President Mirziyoyev and interior and justice ministers as well as local human rights activists, gave press conference 11 May calling for govt to match rhetoric with genuine reform. President Mirziyoyev mid-month attended China’s high-level Belt and Road forum aimed at developing trade routes, specifically Silk Road Economic Belt initiative seeking to improve transport and energy infrastructure along two broad transport corridors in Central Asia.
Swedish authorities arrested 39-year-old Uzbek man Rakhmat Akilov, originally from Samarkand and living in Sweden since 2014, over 7 April truck attack in Stockholm in which four were killed and fifteen injured; Akilov, whose request for political asylum was rejected in 2016, confessed to attack and expressed support for Islamic State (ISIS). Uzbek authorities opened separate criminal case against Akilov in Feb on extremism charges; FM Abdulaziz Kamilov 14 April said govt had warned Sweden of Akilov’s activities. Akilov’s brother reportedly detained in Uzbekistan 23 April. President Mirziyoyev signed commercial and investment contracts worth $15.8bn during meetings with Russian President Putin in Moscow 4-5 April; presidents also promised to cooperate closely on security issues.
President Mirziyoyev in first official foreign visit 6-7 March met with Turkmen counterpart; reportedly signed agreement on strategic partnership, discussed regional security issues including Afghanistan; countries also agreed cooperation on energy and transportation. Mirziyoyev 23 March met with his Kazakh counterpart, hailed recent increase in trade between the two countries. Jamshid Karimov, late president’s nephew, released 1 March from psychiatric clinic where he was held for a decade after criticising govt; human rights defender and reporter on child and forced labour in cotton fields Elena Urlaeva detained same day under unknown charge and forcibly admitted to a psychiatric facility. Following mid-March visit to Uzbekistan, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said it will resume lending to country, which previously stopped in 2007.
President Mirziyoyev 8 Feb approved wide-ranging 2017-2021 development strategy promising political, judicial and economic reforms. Govt late Jan announced it will spend $2.6bn over five years to develop area around Aral Sea.
Swiss prosecutors 15 Jan confirmed they met with late President Karimov’s daughter Gulnara, under house arrest in Tashkent on charges of money laundering, ending months of speculation about her fate. Govt continued border negotiations with Kyrgyzstan: Deputy PM Adkham Ikramov met with Kyrgyz President Atambayev 18 Jan in Bishkek, after meeting with Deputy PM Jenish Razakov in Osh in S Kyrgyzstan; sides agreed to speed up cooperation.
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