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Asia and Oceania
Uzbekistan |
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Last reviewed: 22 November 2007 |
Country information
POLITICS
Recent Political Developments
Karimov won the last Presidential election in January 2000 with 91.9% of the vote from a reported turn-out of 95%. The OSCE's ODIHR made clear its reservations about the electoral process and did not, as a consequence, deploy even a limited mission, judging that conditions did not exist to hold a democratic election. A referendum in January 2002 extended the President's term to seven years, allowing Karimov to stay in office until 2008.
Parliamentary elections were held on 26 December 2004 with only pro-government parties permitted to take part. The OSCE/ODIHR limited Election Observation Mission reported that the elections fell significantly short of OSCE commitments as well as other international standards despite minor improvements in the election law. There will be Presidential elections on 23 December.
HUMAN RIGHTS
The UK, bilaterally and with EU partners, regularly and repeatedly draws its concern about the human rights situation in Uzbekistan to senior level attention within the Uzbek Government. The Government has used the limited appeal of Islamic extremism as a pretext for repression. Torture is a particular concern. The UN Special Rapporteur for Torture visited Uzbekistan in November 2002 and said it was 'systematic'. Genuine opposition political parties are banned or prevented from registering. Independent human rights NGOs suffer similar problems, Only two - the Independent Human Rights Organisation of Uzbekistan (IHROU) and Ezgulik - are currently registered. Many NGOs have been forced to close since legislation introduced in 2004 and 2005 has tightened control over their activity and funding. In a wide ranging campaign to reinforce the official version of the Andizhan events, journalists and human rights activists in particular have been harassed, arrested and imprisoned after trials which have not met international standards. Many fled the country. The press and mass media are subject to de facto censorship. There are frequent allegations of fabrication of evidence; and 'disappearances' of alleged Islamic activists have been reported.
For more information on the latest human rights situation in Uzbekistan please see Chapter Two of the FCO's Annual Human Rights Report.
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Contacts
Address:
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
41 Holland Park
London W11 3RP
Telephone:
(020) 7229 7679
Fax:
(020) 7229 7029
Email: info@uzbekembassy.org
Office hours:
Mon–Fri: 0900-1230 and 1430-1730
Mon, Wed, Fri: 1000–1300 (Consular)
Website: http://www.uzbekembassy.org/