Via Serica (USA), an organization representing the interests of the global Karakalpak diaspora, today issued its first press release dedicated to the situation of convicted Karakalpak protest leader Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, who is serving a 16-year sentence in a maximum security prison in Uzbekistan. The text of this document is published below.

(February 16, 2025 - Washington, D.C.) - Via Serica, a U.S.-registered non-governmental organization that represents the global Karakalpak diaspora, has received grave and credible reports regarding the appalling conditions of political prisoner Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, who is a distinguished lawyer, journalist, and steadfast advocate for the rights of Karakalpak people, has been imprisoned since July 2022. Through his work at the Karakalpak-language newspaper In the Service of the Country, he has fearlessly exposed endemic government corruption while providing pro bono legal services to vulnerable communities. Widely respected for his unwavering commitment to justice, he has tackled issues that others would not dare confront.

In January 2023, following a flawed trial, Uzbek authorities sentenced Tajimuratov, a Karakalpak journalist, lawyer, and activist, to 16 years in prison on politically-motivated charges in retaliation for his peaceful exercise of freedom of expression and his opposition to constitutional amendments introduced in 2022 that would have stripped Karakalpakstan of its sovereign status.

“This so-called “sentence” is nothing more than a cruel punishment for the peaceful exercise of his constitutional rights,” said the chairwoman of Via Serica. “The hypocrisy here is striking. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev amended the Constitution in his favor, unlawfully extending his term in office without any consequences. At the same time, Tajimuratov, who defended the Constitution, remains behind bars for a term longer than those serving sentences for violent offenses.”

A Defender of Karakalpak Sovereignty Imprisoned for Exercising His Rights: Karakalpakstan’s Rightful Sovereignty Suppressed

On December 14, 1990, the Karakalpak ASSR declared state sovereignty over Soviet laws—a full eight months before Uzbekistan declared independence on August 31, 1991. In 1993, Karakalpakstan entered into a temporary 20-year agreement with Uzbekistan, under which it became the Sovereign Republic of Karakalpakstan, explicitly retaining the right to secede.

Both the Constitution of Karakalpakstan and the Constitution of Uzbekistan affirm Karakalpakstan’s sovereign status and its legal right to self-determination. However, rather than honoring this agreement, Uzbekistan has systematically dismantled Karakalpak sovereignty, erasing its language, culture, and political sovereignty while violently silencing those who defend its legal rights—including Dauletmurat Tajimuratov.

On July 1, 2022, after lawfully calling for a peaceful protest in Nukus against constitutional amendments that sought to strip Karakalpakstan of its sovereign status, Tajimuratov was arrested and later sentenced to 16 years in prison on fabricated charges, including:

• “Intentional grievous bodily harm” (Article 104, paragraph 3(a));

• “Conspiracy to seize power or overthrow the constitutional order” (Article 159, paragraph 4);

• “Theft by embezzlement or misappropriation at a large scale” (Article 167, paragraph 3(a));

• “Legalization of proceeds of criminal activity” (Article 243);

• “Organisation of mass riots accompanied by violence” (Article 244, paragraph 3); and

• “Preparation and dissemination of materials containing threat to public security and public order” (Article 244-1, paragraph 1(a, b, g)).

These charges are widely regarded as politically motivated attempts to suppress dissent.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Tajimuratov is also a devoted father of three, whose future and well-being are imperiled by these draconian measures. His case has become emblematic of the broader struggle for human rights and democratic freedoms in Uzbekistan.

Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, who is currently being held in the KIN-11 maximum security prison in Navoi, Uzbekistan. Authorities should promptly investigate credible allegations of ill-treatment and release him immediately.

Life in Peril: Systematic Abuse and Deprivation

Under the universally recognized framework of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules), the treatment of Tajimuratov constitutes a flagrant breach of established international legal obligations.

Sources close to Tajimuratov allege that his health is in severe decline as a direct result of prolonged and deliberate ill-treatment. Specifically, he is being forced to perform hazardous labor in coal mines without adequate protective equipment, thereby exposing him to toxic substances—conditions that are unequivocally prohibited under the Mandela Rules, which mandate that prisoners be safeguarded against any measures that jeopardize their physical or mental integrity.

Furthermore, the persistent denial of regular access to clean water represents a further violation of his fundamental human rights. Such actions amount to cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment in contravention of both international law and Uzbekistan’s duty to ensure humane conditions of detention.

In light of these serious allegations, Uzbekistan should immediately take remedial action, ensuring full compliance with its international obligations to protect the dignity and health of all prisoners.

The pattern of abuse is systemic and punitive:

● Psychological and Physical Torture: Tajimuratov has been repeatedly threatened and subjected to coercion–a well-documented practice used against political prisoners in Uzbekistan.

● Endangerment of Health: He is detained alongside prisoners diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, an unlawful and cruel measure that places his life at further risk.

● Isolation and Deprivation: Prison authorities have periodically denied him access to letters, while packages from friends and family are intercepted and returned. Even his basic personal belongings-bedding and a drinking mug-have been confiscated by other inmates with the tacit approval of prison authorities.

● Other Unlawful Restrictions: In December 2024, prison officials illegally denied his family’s right to provide him with a parcel, a direct violation of Uzbekistan’s own penitentiary regulations.

● Punitive Confinement: Last week, Tajimuratov was held in a punishment cell, subjected to severe physical and psychological torment, simply for exercising his legal right to file grievances about his detention conditions.

Sources close to Tajimuratov say that in December 2024 relatives visiting Tajimuratov stated that they barely recognized him due to his worsening health. They stated that a man known for his unshakable strength and integrity was reduced to tears, reflecting the unbearable cruelty he faces.

A Hero to His Nation, Treated as a Criminal

“Tajimuratov’s imprisonment is not merely an individual case of injustice; it is a broader attack on all those who dare to advocate for democracy and human rights in Uzbekistan,” stated the chairwoman of Via Serica. “His only ‘crime’ was defending the inalienable rights of his people. For this, he has been subjected to inhumane treatment that constitutes torture under international law and every day he spends behind bars is one too many.”

Via Serica calls upon international human rights organizations, foreign governments, and all advocates of justice to demand:

● Unrestricted access for independent observers to assess Tajimuratov’s condition.

● Immediate provision of adequate medical care and humane treatment.

● Cessation of all persecution and retaliation against Karakalpak activists.

● The immediate and unconditional release of Dauletmurat Tajimuratov and other Karakalpak political prisoners.

For Media Inquires or further information, please contact: karakalpakUSA@proton.me

Via Serica