(Brussels, January 16, 2025) – Authorities in all five Central Asian countries will crack down on dissent, tighten controls on freedom of expression and imprison more government critics, activists and journalists by 2024. In its World Report 2025, Human Rights Watch today set out a promise of reform, with increasing numbers and, in some cases, hidden behind pretense.
In its 546-page World Report, now in its 35th edition, Human Rights Watch examined human rights practices in more than 100 countries. Executive Director Tirana Hassan writes in the foreword that in many parts of the world, governments repress political opponents, activists, and journalists, arresting and imprisoning them unjustly. Armed groups and government forces illegally killed civilians, forced many from their homes, and cut off access to humanitarian aid. In many of the more than 70 national elections to be held in 2024, authoritarian leaders have gained power with discriminatory rhetoric and policies.
“In 2024, authorities across Central Asia stepped up intimidation, harassment, and prosecution of critical activists and journalists,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “As more Central Asian activists are imprisoned simply for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful opposition, it is all the more important to draw attention to their plight and demand their release. ”
A Kazakh court has sentenced activist and journalist Duman Muhamedkarim and opposition activist Ashirbek Zamuratov to seven years in prison each on broad extremism charges. Authorities even charged comedians. A new media law threatens media freedom in the country. In Kyrgyzstan, two journalists affiliated with Temirov Live, an investigative organization that exposes high-level corruption by authorities, have been sentenced to up to six years in prison for “calling for disobedience and riots.” ” A court ordered the closure of award-winning investigative journalism organization Croup Media on the fabricated pretext of “calling for a violent power grab online.” Authorities in Tajikistan have launched an investigation into Anora Sarkolova, a journalist who reports on the government’s repression. Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) and to Ahmad Ibrohim, editor-in-chief of Peik, one of the last independent newspapers. Seven journalists have been jailed for critical reporting. The government of Turkmenistan maintained severe restrictions on freedom of expression and complete control over access to information. It arbitrarily and groundlessly prohibited some people from traveling abroad and continued to refuse to renew their passports overseas. Authorities arrested and imprisoned several people living abroad and deported them to Turkmenistan. Uzbek authorities indicted the activists on baseless criminal charges, and the Kashkadariya court sentenced Dildora Kakimova and Nargiza Kerdyorova to six and a half years in prison. Each in prison. Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court has rejected the appeal of imprisoned Karakalpak lawyer and blogger Dilmurod Tazimuratov.
The governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan should release unjustly imprisoned activists and journalists and defend their right to freedom of expression. The European Union, the United States and other partners should condemn Central Asian countries for imprisoning rights defenders and journalists who are working tirelessly to hold their governments to account at great risk to themselves. .
