Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty editor Ars Kurmasheva sits in a cage in a courtroom in Kazan, Russia, on Friday (October 20, 2023), the second American journalist to be detained. . This year it’s Russia. File | Photo Credit: AP
Human Rights Watch criticized the “deteriorating” rights situation in Central Asia in a report released this week, saying all five former Soviet states in the region will jail dissidents and tighten controls on journalists in 2024. said.
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan all have authoritarian governments.
Turkmenistan is one of the most closed countries in the world.
“In 2024, authorities across Central Asia stepped up their efforts to intimidate, harass, and prosecute critical activists and journalists,” Human Rights Watch quoted Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director, as saying.
“As more Central Asian activists are imprisoned simply for exercising their rights to free speech and peaceful dissent, it is increasingly important to draw attention to their plight and demand their release. “There is,” he added.
In a lengthy report of more than 500 pages released on Thursday (16 January 2025), the human rights group said all five Central Asian states intensified repressive practices in 2024.
It called on countries to “release unjustly imprisoned activists and journalists.”
All five countries rank at the bottom of the press freedom rankings by Reporters Without Borders.
issued – January 18, 2025 11:17 AM IST
