End of EU sanctions sinks hope of change in Uzbekistan (27.10.2009)

(Quelle: IWPR)

The removal of the last of the sanctions the European Union imposed on Uzbekistan after the 2005 bloodshed in Andijan is more likely to bolster the regime’s sense of impunity than to encourage better human rights observance, commentator say. EU foreign ministers decided to drop the last remaining sanction, a ban on arms sales to Uzbekistan, at an October 27 meeting in Luxembourg.

Uzbek human rights “progress” claim (14.09.2009)

(Quelle: IWPR / UK)

Human rights activists in Uzbekistan say they disagree strongly with claims by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe, OSCE, that the human rights situation is improving in the country. Their comments follow a visit to Tashkent on September 8 by Janez Lenarcic, director of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

OSCE welcomes Uzbek progress on human rights (09.09.2009)

(Quelle: RFE, RL / International)

A European human rights watchdog has praised Uzbekistan's progress in human rights and said it would step up cooperation with the Central Asian state, long criticzed for rights abuses.

Fatal shoot-out rocks Uzbek capital, despite tight security measures (31.08.2009)

(Quelle: RFE, RL / International)

Details remain unclear about a series of reported shooting incidents that rocked the capital Tashkent late on August 29 evening. At least two people were killed in the shootings, although human rights activists speaking to RFE/RL's Uzbek Service say the number could be as high as six.

OSCE human rights chief to visit Uzbekistan (17.07.2009)

(Quelle: OSCE / International)

The Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, will be in Tashkent next week for talks on how ODIHR can assist the authorities in implementing Uzbekistan's international commitments.

Uzbekistan digging trenches along disputed Kyrgyz border (10.06.2009)

(Quelle: RFE/RL / International)

Kyrgyz border guard officials told RFE/RL that neither the Uzbek nor the Kyrgyz side is permitted to undertake any type of construction or engineering works along the border until it is fully delimited. The Uzbek-Kyrgyz border was not fully marked after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and many parts of it are disputed.

Much of Kyrgyz-Uzbek border still shut in wake of attacks (29.05.2009)

(Quelle: REF/ RL / International)

All but a single Kyrgyz-Uzbek border crossing remain closed four days after two deadly attacks in Uzbekistan, including a shootout between police and unknown assailants near a border checkpoint, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports. The border was closed after shootouts in the eastern Uzbek cities of Khanabad and Andijon near the Kyrgyz border on May 25.

Suicide bombing in Andijan ups the ante for Karimov (27.05.2009)

(Quelle: EurasiaNet / USA)

A suicide bombing in Andijan on May 26 offers strong evidence that Islamic militants are returning to Uzbekistan after an extended sojourn in Pakistan. The bombing, along with the abortive militant raid in the border town of Khanabad, suggests that President Islam Karimov’s administration may be in for a volatile summer.

Uzbek unrest prompts border closure (26.05.2009)

(Quelle: Al Jazeera / Qatar)

The border between Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan has been closed after an attack on a police station was reported in an Uzbek border region. A spokesman for the Kyrgyz interior ministry said there had been shooting on the Uzbek border post of Khanabad on Tuesday.

US officials negotiating a return to Uzbek air base (23.03.2009)

(Quelle: EurasiaNet / USA)

According to a diplomatic source, the United States is reportedly conducting talks with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan about opening up bases in the two Central Asian countries. After Kyrgyzstan's decision in February to evict US forces from an air base at Manas, US officials sent out feelers to Ashgabat and Tashkent about setting up a military presence on Turkmen and Uzbek territory, the diplomatic source claimed.

Top US commander in Uzbek talks (17.02.2009)

(Quelle: BBC / UK)

The US commander for the Middle East and Central Asia, General David Petraeus, is in Uzbekistan for talks with leaders. US officials said Gen Petraeus would meet President Islam Karimov to discuss key regional security issues. His visit comes weeks after Kyrgyzstan unexpectedly announced the closure of the key US military base in the region.

EU eases Uzbek sanctions despite reporter's jailing (13.10.2008)

(Quelle: IWPR) The European Union has eased the sanctions it imposed on Uzbekistan following the violence in Andijan in May 2005, lifting a visa ban on senior officials but prolonging an embargo on arms sales for another year. Following a meeting of the EU’s General Affairs and External Relations Council on October 13, a statement was issued saying the EU “welcomes the progress achieved in Uzbekistan in the last year with regard to respect for the rule of law and protection of human rights”.

Uzbekistan presses European Union to end sanctions (16.09.2008)

(Quelle: RFE/RL) With the European Union preparing to review its currently suspended visa ban and arms embargo on Uzbekistan in October, the country's foreign minister has said the bloc is guilty of 'double standards' for penalizing the country for shortcomings that uniformly afflict the entire Central Asian region.

Uzbek campaigner freed from jail (02.06.2008)

(Quelle: BBC) The authorities in Uzbekistan have released the country's leading human rights campaigner, Mutabar Tadjibaeva, from prison. She was serving an eight-year sentence after accusing the government of shooting unarmed protesters in the city of Andijan in 2005.

US 'not returning to Uzbek base' (10.03.2008)

(Quelle: BBC) A senior western diplomat in Uzbekistan has told the BBC that the United States is not trying to re-open a military base in the country. The diplomat said that a return by the armed forces to the Central Asian state was not on the agenda. The US withdrew from Uzbekistan following a dispute over human rights in 2005. But recent media reports had suggested that Washington was negotiating a possible return.

US troops return to Uzbek bases (06.03.2008)

(Quelle: BBC) Uzbekistan is once again allowing the US to use a base in the south of the country for operations in Afghanistan.

Uzbek President Karimov sworn in (16.01.2008)

(Quelle: BBC) Mr Karimov received 88.1% of the vote in an election where he faced no serious opposition and where the media was under state control. He has already spent the maximum two terms in office and he gave no reason as to why he was able to run again.

OSZE kritisiert Wahlen in Usbekistan (25.12.2007)

(Quelle: NZZ) Die Präsidentenwahl in Usbekistan ist nach Angaben der Organisation für Sicherheit und Zusammenarbeit in Europa (OSZE) nicht nach demokratischen Standards verlaufen. Die Abstimmung habe in einem politisch streng kontrollierten Umfeld stattgefunden, das einer echten Opposition keinerlei Spielraum gegeben habe, erklärten Wahlbeobachter der OSZE am Montag in Moskau.

Uzbek president wins third term (24.12.2007)

(Quelle: BBC) The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, has been declared the winner of Sunday's general election. He won 88.1% of the vote in a poll which foreign election monitors said failed to meet democratic standards. Under the Uzbek constitution Mr Karimov has already had the maximum two terms in office. He has given no explanation as to why he was able to run again.

Leader nominated again (07.11.2007)

(Quelle: New York Times) Delegates at a congress of the Liberal Democratic Party voted unanimously to nominate President Islam A. Karimov to run in the Dec. 23 presidential election, the Interfax news agency reported.

Rights groups condemn easing of EU sanctions (16.10.2007)

(Quelle: RFE / RL) Rights groups and other critics have reacted with anger and dismay to a European Union decision to ease sanctions on Uzbekistan. The penalties were imposed two years ago in the wake of the killings of protesters in the Uzbek city of Andijon. But on October 15, EU foreign ministers decided to suspend for six months the bloc's visa ban on eight top Uzbek officials.

Field of presidential hopefuls wider, not deeper (29.09.2007)

(Quelle: RFE / RL) Just days into the official campaign period for Uzbekistan's dubious presidential election scheduled for December, doubts have emerged about the true prospects of those who have officially or unofficially announced their candidacies. Little, if anything, is known about the six who say they intend to run -- and one is even claiming he was prodded into running by the country's security service.

Uzbekistan gears up for elections (21.09.2007)

(Quelle: BBC) Official preparations for the presidential election in Uzbekistan have begun, the government says. The long-awaited vote will take place on 23 December. It is not yet clear who the candidates will be and whether President Islam Karimov, long-time ruler of the Central Asian republic, will run for office. The International Crisis Group recently said the international community should brace itself for civil conflict in the country when Mr Karimov leaves office. Election officials in Uzbekistan say they have begun identifying electoral districts and marking polling stations.

Presidential hopefuls emerge (19.09.2007)

(Quelle: ISN Security Watch) Uzbek officials announced today that the country will hold its next presidential election on 23 December, ending months of uncertainty about the vote. … Observers say incumbent President Islam Karimov, who has ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, will try to stay in office - even though the current constitution forbids him from seeking another term. Election campaigning is due to start on 21 September, and several candidates have already announced their intention to run for president.

Uzbekistan: stagnation and uncertainty – new ICG briefing (22.08.2007)

(Quelle: International Crisis Group (ICG)) “Uzbekistan: Stagnation and Uncertainty”, the latest International Crisis Group briefing, warns that two years after the Andijon massacre, the country remains a serious risk to itself and the region. The 69-year-old Karimov's term ended formally in January but he shows no sign of stepping down. There is no clear successor or succession process, so an eventual power struggle could well be violent. The human rights situation is grave; a tightly controlled economy drives off investors and exacerbates grinding poverty. The regime cites the 'war on terror' to justify authoritarian policies … .

EU slightly softens its stance toward Uzbekistan (14.05.2007)

(Quelle: Eurasianet) The European Union is slightly softening its stance on Uzbekistan, despite Tashkent’s continuing reluctance to make substantive improvements on its human rights record. EU officials lifted a visa ban May 14 for several top Uzbek officials, while keeping an arms embargo and other sanctions in place for another year. The EU’s slight retreat on Uzbekistan chagrined international human rights groups, which maintain that Uzbek leaders have done little to merit any loosening of sanctions, which were imposed in the aftermath of the Andijan massacre in May 2005. Some activists now worry that the EU is looking for a way to normalize relations with Uzbekistan, regardless of whether Tashkent makes rights improvements or not.

No meeting of minds on human rights (17.04.2007)

(Quelle: IWPR) Although Tashkent is now ready to start talking to the European Union about the human rights situation, and the EU is reciprocating by considering an end to sanctions, NBCentralAsia observers say the dialogue could be derailed by the continued pressure on human rights groups. On May 14, the EU is due to consider lifting the sanctions first imposed on Uzbekistan when it refused to allow an international investigation into the violence in Andijan in 2005.

EU to soften stance on Uzbekistan (06.04.2007)

(Quelle: IWPR) Despite continuing differences of opinion on the Andijan violence of May 2005, the European Union and Uzbekistan now look likely to come to an understanding on the human rights situation in the country. NBCentralAsia commentators say that for that to happen, the EU will make unacceptable concessions to Tashkent. On April 2-5, a European Union delegation visited Uzbekistan to investigate what really happened in Andijan, according to the Uznews.net site. The outcome of the visit, together with the findings of a previous EU investigative mission in December, may influence Brussels’ position on the sanctions imposed on Uzbekistan in the wake of the Andijan violence.

Opponents say Uzbek President's term has expired (22.01.2007)

(Quelle: RFE / RL) Opponents to Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov say his term in office constitutionally expired today, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reported. The activists say Karimov has no legal right to run the country until the next election, scheduled for the end of this year. … Constitutional Court Deputy Chairman Bahtiyor Mirboboev told RFE/RL today that the lower house of parliament voted that Karimov should remain in office until new elections are held.

EU delegation visits Uzbekistan (11.12.2006)

(Quelle: RFE / RL) A European Union delegation has arrived in Tashkent for talks with Uzbek officials about a bloody government crackdown in May 2005 in the eastern city of Andijon and the human rights situation in the country.