Uzbek Forum for Human Rights
@uzbekforum.bsky.social
Defending Human Rights in Uzbekistan
https://www.uzbekforum.org/
https://www.uzbekforum.org/
“Agro-Terrorism” in Uzbekistan: the impunity of local officials to commit acts of violence, extortion, and retribution against farmers. And all in the name of ensuring #cotton and wheat quotas are fulfilled for the state. There are dozens of these stories.
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bit.ly/4oXWGnW
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bit.ly/4oXWGnW
“Agro-Terrorism” in Uzbekistan: Farmers Punished for Planting Onions
In the Shurchi district of Surkhandarya region, around 80 farmers were forced onto buses late at night on October 31, 2025, and brought to a “meeting” with regional officials, escorted by police.
bit.ly
November 11, 2025 at 9:40 AM
“Agro-Terrorism” in Uzbekistan: the impunity of local officials to commit acts of violence, extortion, and retribution against farmers. And all in the name of ensuring #cotton and wheat quotas are fulfilled for the state. There are dozens of these stories.
🧵
bit.ly/4oXWGnW
🧵
bit.ly/4oXWGnW
While #Uzbekistan's President Mirziyoyev basks in the glory of hosting @unesco.org's General Conference in #Samarkand, activists are silenced amid forced evictions and demolitions of #UNESCO heritage sites. #SilkRoad #HumanRights
bit.ly/4hKRu4z
bit.ly/4hKRu4z
Phone Lines Cut, Voices Blocked: How Uzbekistan Silenced Critics During the UNESCO Conference
The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference is currently taking place in Samarkand. As local media enthusiastically report, this is the first time in 40 years that the conference is being held…
bit.ly
November 6, 2025 at 8:40 AM
While #Uzbekistan's President Mirziyoyev basks in the glory of hosting @unesco.org's General Conference in #Samarkand, activists are silenced amid forced evictions and demolitions of #UNESCO heritage sites. #SilkRoad #HumanRights
bit.ly/4hKRu4z
bit.ly/4hKRu4z
"In recent years, Uzbek authorities have ramped up restrictions on human rights activism and freedom of expression, targeting activists, bloggers, and others, including with unfounded criminal charges."
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights #C5+1
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights #C5+1
Central Asia-US Summit: Address Region’s Growing Repression
Human Rights Should be Key to Economic, Security Ties
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Human Rights Should be Key to Economic, Security Ties
www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...
Central Asia-US Summit: Address Region’s Growing Repression
(Berlin, November 3, 2025) – Governments attending the Central Asia-US summit on November 6, 2025, should focus on improving their human rights records amid discussions of economic and security cooper...
www.hrw.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"In recent years, Uzbek authorities have ramped up restrictions on human rights activism and freedom of expression, targeting activists, bloggers, and others, including with unfounded criminal charges."
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights #C5+1
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights #C5+1
As millions of dollars from IFIs pour into #Uzbekistan to improve water saving technologies, fraud, corruption and abuse of power by local authorities is causing massive debts for farmers. @ebrd.bsky.social #WorldBank
bit.ly/47zm4cC
bit.ly/47zm4cC
Uzbekistan’s Water Crisis Spells Debts for Farmers
At a time when saving water has become a matter of vital importance, it is no less crucial to monitor how the allocated funds are used.
thediplomat.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:06 AM
As millions of dollars from IFIs pour into #Uzbekistan to improve water saving technologies, fraud, corruption and abuse of power by local authorities is causing massive debts for farmers. @ebrd.bsky.social #WorldBank
bit.ly/47zm4cC
bit.ly/47zm4cC
VERY important - thank you @oscemediafreedom.bsky.social!
Attacks on journalists, bloggers and activists in #Uzbekistan are increasing at an alarming rate, something we have reported extensively on over the last 3 years.
Attacks on journalists, bloggers and activists in #Uzbekistan are increasing at an alarming rate, something we have reported extensively on over the last 3 years.
🗣️OSCE RFoM Central Asia Media Conference “Actioning Media Viability for Informed and Resilient Societies”
📅 13-14 November
📍Tashkent 🇺🇿
Join important discussions on #MediaFreedom!
More information👇
www.osce.org/representati...
📅 13-14 November
📍Tashkent 🇺🇿
Join important discussions on #MediaFreedom!
More information👇
www.osce.org/representati...
November 3, 2025 at 9:59 AM
VERY important - thank you @oscemediafreedom.bsky.social!
Attacks on journalists, bloggers and activists in #Uzbekistan are increasing at an alarming rate, something we have reported extensively on over the last 3 years.
Attacks on journalists, bloggers and activists in #Uzbekistan are increasing at an alarming rate, something we have reported extensively on over the last 3 years.
It's time for #Uzbekistan to start implementing their national and international rights obligations and for the international community to stop being sucked into the government's PR spin. Everything is not fine. @unesco.org @balaraj.bsky.social @unsr-judges.bsky.social #Samarkand
bit.ly/4oPiJNK
bit.ly/4oPiJNK
Uzbekistan and UNESCO must address forced evictions at world heritage sites
GENEVA – UN experts* today expressed concern about forced evictions and housing demolitions in the city centre of Samarkand in Uzbekistan, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site since 2001.
bit.ly
October 31, 2025 at 8:31 AM
It's time for #Uzbekistan to start implementing their national and international rights obligations and for the international community to stop being sucked into the government's PR spin. Everything is not fine. @unesco.org @balaraj.bsky.social @unsr-judges.bsky.social #Samarkand
bit.ly/4oPiJNK
bit.ly/4oPiJNK
"Fighting for human rights means defending the dignity of everyone," says journalist and rights defender Sharifa Madrakhimova, winner of this year's @frontlinedefenders.bsky.social Award for #CentralAsia.
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights
bit.ly/49oO1q2
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights
bit.ly/49oO1q2
«Бороться за права человека — значит защищать достоинство каждого»
Шарифа Мадрахимова, лауреат международной премии Front Line Defenders 2025 специально для «Рабочей Политики» В Узбекистане тема прав человека остаётся болезненной и противоречивой. Несмотря на заявлен...
bit.ly
October 28, 2025 at 9:43 AM
"Fighting for human rights means defending the dignity of everyone," says journalist and rights defender Sharifa Madrakhimova, winner of this year's @frontlinedefenders.bsky.social Award for #CentralAsia.
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights
bit.ly/49oO1q2
#Uzbekistan #HumanRights
bit.ly/49oO1q2
Reposted by Uzbek Forum for Human Rights
Uzbek journalist: "I don't trust UNESCO."
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
October 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Uzbek journalist: "I don't trust UNESCO."
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
Uzbek journalist: "I don't trust UNESCO."
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
October 27, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Uzbek journalist: "I don't trust UNESCO."
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
This month, @unesco.org will hold its General Conference in Samarkand, one if its prized heritage zones, currently facing unbridled tourism development, impacting some of the region's most precious heritage sites.
bit.ly/3JeBLhj
#Uzbekistan #Samarkand
#HumanRights are supposed to be a key element of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. @ec.europa.eu is clearly ignoring all the alarm bells ringing in #Uzbekistan.
#Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a high-level visit to Brussels on October 24, 2025, to sign a partnership deal with the EU, but the EU has missed an important opportunity to bring about positive change, says @hrw.org.
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
www.hrw.org/news/2025/10...
EU to Sign Uzbekistan Partnership Deal Despite Rights Abuses
(Brussels, October 22, 2025) - Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a high-level visit to Brussels on October 24, 2025 to sign a partnership deal with the EU setting out a new stage of c...
www.hrw.org
October 24, 2025 at 7:13 AM
#HumanRights are supposed to be a key element of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. @ec.europa.eu is clearly ignoring all the alarm bells ringing in #Uzbekistan.
💐Delighted to see that fearless Uzbek rights defender and journalist Sharifa Madrakhimova was finally able to receive her award from @frontlinedefenders.bsky.social in person at
@odihr.pl #WarsawHDC after her passport was destroyed to prevent her from leaving #Uzbekistan. #RepressionFail 👏🏼
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@odihr.pl #WarsawHDC after her passport was destroyed to prevent her from leaving #Uzbekistan. #RepressionFail 👏🏼
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October 20, 2025 at 1:51 PM
💐Delighted to see that fearless Uzbek rights defender and journalist Sharifa Madrakhimova was finally able to receive her award from @frontlinedefenders.bsky.social in person at
@odihr.pl #WarsawHDC after her passport was destroyed to prevent her from leaving #Uzbekistan. #RepressionFail 👏🏼
🧵
@odihr.pl #WarsawHDC after her passport was destroyed to prevent her from leaving #Uzbekistan. #RepressionFail 👏🏼
🧵
Reposted by Uzbek Forum for Human Rights
Join Silk Mirage on tour! Just over a month to publication of my book on #Uzbekistan by @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, and some great events are coming up: Clifton LitFest w @peterleonard1.bsky.social, Pushkin House with Ibrat Safo, Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson + much more!
October 9, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Join Silk Mirage on tour! Just over a month to publication of my book on #Uzbekistan by @bloomsburyacad.bsky.social, and some great events are coming up: Clifton LitFest w @peterleonard1.bsky.social, Pushkin House with Ibrat Safo, Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson + much more!
📢 #WarsawHDC @odihr.pl : happening today! Join @umidaniyazova.bsky.social to discuss #PressFreedom in #CentralAsia organized by @pressfreedom.bsky.social @americanbar.org and #ClooneyFoundation at 14:30-15:30, Meeting Room 2, Saski
@oscemediafreedom.bsky.social
@oscemediafreedom.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 9:44 AM
📢 #WarsawHDC @odihr.pl : happening today! Join @umidaniyazova.bsky.social to discuss #PressFreedom in #CentralAsia organized by @pressfreedom.bsky.social @americanbar.org and #ClooneyFoundation at 14:30-15:30, Meeting Room 2, Saski
@oscemediafreedom.bsky.social
@oscemediafreedom.bsky.social
For those attending #WarsawHDC, be sure to make time for this panel on #PressFreedom in #CentralAsia organized by @pressfreedom.bsky.social, @americanbar.org and Clooney Foundation/Trial Watch with @umidaniyazova.bsky.social and others. Tomorrow, Thursday, 9 October:
October 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
For those attending #WarsawHDC, be sure to make time for this panel on #PressFreedom in #CentralAsia organized by @pressfreedom.bsky.social, @americanbar.org and Clooney Foundation/Trial Watch with @umidaniyazova.bsky.social and others. Tomorrow, Thursday, 9 October:
The #Uzbek government is learning the hard way that it takes more than a PR campaign to convince the world it is embracing civil society. Their event at #WarsawHDC is embarrassingly empty.....
October 8, 2025 at 2:31 PM
The #Uzbek government is learning the hard way that it takes more than a PR campaign to convince the world it is embracing civil society. Their event at #WarsawHDC is embarrassingly empty.....
@ebrd.bsky.social & @ifcorg.bsky.social investments in Indorama in #Uzbekistan resulted in massive rights violations. "Public finance should not be used to whitewash the reputations of repeat offenders in countries where civil society & institutions are under sustained attack."
bit.ly/4mYWYts
bit.ly/4mYWYts
EBRD’s toxic bond with Indorama: Funding polluter in Georgia’s shrinking democracy - Bankwatch
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) continues to back one of its most controversial clients in one of Europe’s most troubled democracies. Human rights, labour laws, and the env...
bit.ly
October 8, 2025 at 11:58 AM
@ebrd.bsky.social & @ifcorg.bsky.social investments in Indorama in #Uzbekistan resulted in massive rights violations. "Public finance should not be used to whitewash the reputations of repeat offenders in countries where civil society & institutions are under sustained attack."
bit.ly/4mYWYts
bit.ly/4mYWYts
Reposted by Uzbek Forum for Human Rights
More about Silk Mirage and full list of book tour events - from Clifton LitFest with @peterleonard1.bsky.social and Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson to Oxford University and UCL on my Substack here substack.com/home/post/p-...
October 3, 2025 at 5:25 AM
More about Silk Mirage and full list of book tour events - from Clifton LitFest with @peterleonard1.bsky.social and Royal Society for Asian Affairs with Sophie Ibbotson to Oxford University and UCL on my Substack here substack.com/home/post/p-...
Today we note the impact of our reporting: Our #HumanRights alert made waves on Uzbek media, prompting an investigation by the Business Ombudsman. Let's hope it's prompt and transparent and ends in accountability!
t.me/biznes_ombud...
t.me/biznes_ombud...
📢 New #HumanRights alert:
We have documented dozens of reports of arbitrary acts of violence against farmers in recent months. How does this promote sustainable #cotton from #Uzbekistan??
Hold those responsible to account now!
bit.ly/46m1Oul
We have documented dozens of reports of arbitrary acts of violence against farmers in recent months. How does this promote sustainable #cotton from #Uzbekistan??
Hold those responsible to account now!
bit.ly/46m1Oul
Arbitrary Police Brutality Against Farmers is not Compatible with a Sustainable Cotton Sector
Azizjon Tojiboev and Gairatjon Khairullaev, successful and hardworking farmers from Rishton district of Fergana region, became victims of senseless and illegal arbitrary violence at the hands of local...
bit.ly
October 1, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Today we note the impact of our reporting: Our #HumanRights alert made waves on Uzbek media, prompting an investigation by the Business Ombudsman. Let's hope it's prompt and transparent and ends in accountability!
t.me/biznes_ombud...
t.me/biznes_ombud...
Reposted by Uzbek Forum for Human Rights
New newsletter launched: "International Affairs for Normal People" - read my first post and subscribe. It's free: www.internationalaffairsfornormalpeople.eu/normal-peopl...
“Normal People”? What?
I am not really an expert in anything. However, I have some experience in dealing with experts. Over the last couple decades, I’ve been privileged to work closely with brilliant people in internationa...
www.internationalaffairsfornormalpeople.eu
September 30, 2025 at 10:19 AM
New newsletter launched: "International Affairs for Normal People" - read my first post and subscribe. It's free: www.internationalaffairsfornormalpeople.eu/normal-peopl...
Reposted by Uzbek Forum for Human Rights
Revered founding father or despised despotic dictator? Check out my new Substack post on attitudes to the late president Islam Karimov in the New #Uzbekistan that his sucessor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, says he is building.
open.substack.com/pub/joannali...
open.substack.com/pub/joannali...
The Cult of Karimov
Despotic dictator or founding father? Uzbekistan is struggling to come to terms with the legacy of its first president, who died nine years ago this month.
open.substack.com
September 30, 2025 at 6:35 AM
Revered founding father or despised despotic dictator? Check out my new Substack post on attitudes to the late president Islam Karimov in the New #Uzbekistan that his sucessor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, says he is building.
open.substack.com/pub/joannali...
open.substack.com/pub/joannali...
Fascinating episode of Turan Tales podcast by @aga-pik.bsky.social on the Soviet influence on #CentralAsian music and the evolution of estrada 👏🏼🕺🏼🇺🇿
bit.ly/48xpJJV
bit.ly/48xpJJV
Episode 15: Looking back at the 'Estrada' - pop music of Soviet Central Asia
TURAN TALK with Leora Eisenberg, an American historian and PhD student at Harvard
bit.ly
September 25, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Fascinating episode of Turan Tales podcast by @aga-pik.bsky.social on the Soviet influence on #CentralAsian music and the evolution of estrada 👏🏼🕺🏼🇺🇿
bit.ly/48xpJJV
bit.ly/48xpJJV
Since July this year, we have been posting weekly #HumanRights alerts, reporting on serious issues from inside #Uzbekistan that international audiences might not otherwise see. So far, we have collected 18 stories you should know about:
bit.ly/47KGu4a
bit.ly/47KGu4a
September 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Since July this year, we have been posting weekly #HumanRights alerts, reporting on serious issues from inside #Uzbekistan that international audiences might not otherwise see. So far, we have collected 18 stories you should know about:
bit.ly/47KGu4a
bit.ly/47KGu4a
📢 New #HumanRights alert:
We have documented dozens of reports of arbitrary acts of violence against farmers in recent months. How does this promote sustainable #cotton from #Uzbekistan??
Hold those responsible to account now!
bit.ly/46m1Oul
We have documented dozens of reports of arbitrary acts of violence against farmers in recent months. How does this promote sustainable #cotton from #Uzbekistan??
Hold those responsible to account now!
bit.ly/46m1Oul
Arbitrary Police Brutality Against Farmers is not Compatible with a Sustainable Cotton Sector
Azizjon Tojiboev and Gairatjon Khairullaev, successful and hardworking farmers from Rishton district of Fergana region, became victims of senseless and illegal arbitrary violence at the hands of local...
bit.ly
September 18, 2025 at 9:16 AM
📢 New #HumanRights alert:
We have documented dozens of reports of arbitrary acts of violence against farmers in recent months. How does this promote sustainable #cotton from #Uzbekistan??
Hold those responsible to account now!
bit.ly/46m1Oul
We have documented dozens of reports of arbitrary acts of violence against farmers in recent months. How does this promote sustainable #cotton from #Uzbekistan??
Hold those responsible to account now!
bit.ly/46m1Oul
🇺🇿 Punished for Obedience: Without addressing the motivation and incentives for officials to forcibly mobilize pickers, #Uzbekistan’s #cotton fields remain a high risk environment for #ForcedLabor:
bit.ly/4n5SWjC
bit.ly/4n5SWjC
Punished for Obedience: Officials Become Victims of Uzbekistan’s Cotton System
Dilfuza Toshmatova, deputy hokim of Sariosiyo district of Surkhandarya region, became the first casualty of this year’s cotton harvest in Uzbekistan, which has faced a shortage of pickers for the past…
bit.ly
September 16, 2025 at 9:17 AM
🇺🇿 Punished for Obedience: Without addressing the motivation and incentives for officials to forcibly mobilize pickers, #Uzbekistan’s #cotton fields remain a high risk environment for #ForcedLabor:
bit.ly/4n5SWjC
bit.ly/4n5SWjC
📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢
#Uzbekistan: Blogger & activist Valijon Kalonov has been held in forced psychiatric detention for exercising his freedom of expression since December 2021. RELEASE HIM NOW!
bit.ly/3VhWDXj
🧵
#Uzbekistan: Blogger & activist Valijon Kalonov has been held in forced psychiatric detention for exercising his freedom of expression since December 2021. RELEASE HIM NOW!
bit.ly/3VhWDXj
🧵
Free Valijon Kalonov Now!
Valijon Kalonov, a 55-year-old Uzbek blogger and social media activist, is currently being held in forced psychiatric detention in Samarkand. An opinion issued by the UN Working Group on Arbitrary…
bit.ly
September 15, 2025 at 11:13 AM
📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢📢
#Uzbekistan: Blogger & activist Valijon Kalonov has been held in forced psychiatric detention for exercising his freedom of expression since December 2021. RELEASE HIM NOW!
bit.ly/3VhWDXj
🧵
#Uzbekistan: Blogger & activist Valijon Kalonov has been held in forced psychiatric detention for exercising his freedom of expression since December 2021. RELEASE HIM NOW!
bit.ly/3VhWDXj
🧵