Jacob MacCarter
Uzbekistan has become independent country after Soviet Union fall. Islam Karimov was leader in Uzbekistan Communist Party and dominated in authority of Uzbekistan since 1989. In 1990, he became president and continued to be leader after independence.
After referendum, that was held in 1995, he was chosen to the second term until 2000. Next referendum extended his presidential term till 2007. In 2007, president was chosen by elections. But it change nothing, because this year Islam Karimov also won the elections. Last elections, in March 2015 also were successful for Karimov.
Nevertheless, a few opposition representatives abroad proposed an innovation of alternative presidential elections and established the Virtual Election Commission (VEC). The commission included 11 human rights activists: Mutabar Tadjibaev and Abdujalil Boymatov, social activist Muhammad Solih Abutov, journalist Ulugbek Bakirov, political analyst Kamoliddin Rahimov and a few other Uzbekistani people. Virtual elections won chairman of the People’s Democratic Movement “Birdamlik” Bokhodir Choriyev.
Uzbek opposition leader and chairman of the People’s Democratic Movement “Birdamlik” Bokhodir Choriyev told that Karimov’s regime is not subject to reforms. Uzbekistan needs political, law, economic and other reforms. He said, that country requires non-violent color revolution to do reforms.
Next elections will be held only in 2020.Ms Karimova, elder daughter of ongoing president is a powerful person in business and politics of Uzbekistan. So, many sources highlight that she may be the next president of country after her father.
Now, Uzbekistan is authorized country with planned economy. Country has Parliament, the last elections were held in 2014. It is gathering three times a year. Factually, the Parliament of Uzbekistan do not have real power. Everything in country is under control of Karimov.
Security of country always was number one priority for Karimov. Due to it economy of country did not shows progress. The currency of Uzbekistan is unstable and people cannot get foreign currency officially. On the March, 12 the currency rate was 2858 soms for one dollar, but in the black market the rate was about 7000 soms for dollar.
As I said, Karimov controls everything in Uzbekistan, including press. According to research of Freedom house, organization, that investigates press freedom in different countries, status of press in Uzbekistan is “Not Free”.
According to research of Freedom house Uzbekistan has the next results (data for 2015 year):
- Press freedom score – 95 (100 is the worst).
- Legal environment -30 (30 is the worst).
- Political environment -37 (40 is the worst).
- Economic environment -28 (30 is the worst).
Authority controls media. Exist punishments of journalists for “interference in internal affairs” and “insulting the dignity of citizens”. Foreign media are partly presence in country. Censorships before publication was cancelled,but self-sensorship is a widespread fact in uzbekistanian media.
The Committee to Protect Journalists informs that journalists rely on foreign media, mostly Russian sources, BBC and Radio Liberty. The source “Freedom House” says that Karimov’s regime control all media in country. However, independent journalists exist in Uzbekistan, despite the fact of violation of human rights and political repressions.
Authority controls media. Exist punishments of journalists for “interference in internal affairs” and “insulting the dignity of citizens”. Foreign media are partly presence in country. Censorship before publication was cancelled,but self-censorship is a widespread fact in uzbekistan media.The Committee to Protect Journalists informs that journalists rely on foreign media, mostly Russian sources, BBC and Radio Liberty.
The source “Freedom House” says that Karimov regime control all media in country. However, independent journalists exist in Uzbekistan, despite the fact of violation of human rights and political repressions.Human Rights Watch that about three dozen journalists, activists, are in prison due to their work. Television is the most widespread media source in country.
Human rights situation is the worst in Uzbekistan among all world countries. Situation on United Nations human right mechanism also is the worst worldwide. According to world report on human rights there are registered incidents of tortures and criminal justice violations, forced sterilization, violations based on freedom for religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, forced labor, freedom.
Uzbekistan’s horrible human rights did not discernibly perfect in 2014. Authoritarian leader of country Islam Karimov, who now got into his 25th year in power employ a prevalent safety instrument to monitor and break down on activities of real and deliberate opponents.
Government put down all forms of freedom and do not let any organized political opposition, independent press, free commerce associations, independent civil community organizations, or religious liberty. Those who try to defend rights, or act in ways considered contrary to regime interests, face voluntary arrest, lack of due process, and torture. Forced labor of adults and children continues.They are forcing to work on cotton fields.
A much-publicized enmity between Gulnara Karimova, the president’s daughter, and her sister and mother, in addition with the country’s repressive National Security Services (SNB) that opened on Twitter and in the media revealed a level of infighting within the political elite in unprecedented fashion. Karimova’s accusations about corruption within the political elite and SNB officials’ use of torture brought to the fore many politically sensitive topics. But there were absent signs that the feud led to more space for liberty in Uzbekistan.
Source of picture: http://www.undispatch.com/hacking-team-hack-a-view-from-uzbekistan/