18 people were killed and 243 were injured in protests that took place in the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan last week, as confirmed by authorities in Uzbekistan.
Thousands of people took to the streets in the capital city of Nukus and other cities to protest the changes made to the Constitution of Uzbekistan and how there is no mention of Karakalpakstan being a sovereign republic with its sovereignty protected by Uzbekistan. Protesters were also angry that the Constitution lists no option for Karakalpakstan to leave Uzbekistan through a referendum.
Security forces detained 516 people in efforts to disperse protesters. Most of these people have already been released.
On Saturday President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced that the Constitution will remain unchanged and amendments that reduce Karakalpakstan’s autonomy will be revoked.
The president also announced a state of emergency in Karakalpakstan, which will remain in force for one month.
Language and culture-wise Karakalpakstan is close to Kazakhstan.
The autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan was created in the Soviet era, in 1924. A year later it was added to Kazakhstan’s territory, but from 1930 onward it transferred to Russia’s territory. In 1932 the territory was renamed the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. In 1936 the republic became part of Uzbekistan.
Karakalpakstan is economically the lest developed region of Uzbekistan and receives grants from the state budget. On top of that the republic is in a tough ecological situation caused by the partial drying of the Aral Sea.
President Mirziyoyev met with his Kazakh colleague Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday. The office of the President of Kazakhstan announced after the meeting that the president welcomed Uzbekistan’s proposed measures to ensure stability in Karakalpakstan.