Another 10 of those arrested after the riots in Karakalpakstan are returned to their families

The pre-trial detention of 10 people suspected of participating in demonstrations in Karakalpakstan has been replaced by house arrest.  This was reported by the Commission of independent inquiry into the events that took place in Karakalpakstan in early July.

Today we have relayed that 24 suspects were returned to their families on the basis of state guarantees by the General Prosecutor’s Office, based on the proposal of the members of the Commission and the request of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

On the same day, the preventive detention measure of 10 other citizens was changed to house arrest on the basis of the principle of humanity.
In total, on 30 August, 34 citizens were returned to their families on the principle of humanity," – the report said.

It is noted that the list submitted to the Office of the Procurator-General was based on a study of applications received by the Commission from family members of persons suspected of participating in demonstrations and on personal interviews with suspects.

It should be recalled that on 1 and 2 July of the current year, in the city of Nukus of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, some citizens, having misinterpreted the constitutional reforms underway in the Republic of Uzbekistan, organized unexpected demonstrations.

The Supreme Council of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan assessed the situation as an attempt to seize the state administration in Nukus.

After that, on 2 July, the president of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Karakalpakstan and talked with the Karakalpak people.

In addition, taking into account that the discussion of the changes and additions to the Constitution is still ongoing, and after considering the opinions and comments expressed by the people of Karakalpakstan, the President approved that the Articles 70, 71, 72, 74, 75 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan in their current version, should be left unchanged.

On 4 July, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis (Parliament) of Uzbekistan adopted a decision not to amend the articles of the Constitution relating to Karakalpakstan.

During the incidents, 516 people were arrested, 243 injured and 18 killed.  The case was opened under article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan (infringement of the constitutional order of the Republic of Uzbekistan), part 4 – “Conspiracy to seize government or overthrow the constitutional order of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.