Official: Tashkent admits that the internet was turned off due to the events in Karakalpakstan

As a result of the events that took place in Karakalpakstan on 1-2 July this year, the government had to restrict access to the internet.  This is reported in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the international community.

“On 1-2 July, an attempt was made in the city of Nukus to undermine the constitutional regime, territorial integrity, and unity of the Republic of Uzbekistan.  Under the pretext of protesting against proposals for constitutional reforms submitted to public debate, a group of aggressive individuals had organized an attempt to seize state buildings by violence, shooting, and the use of force.

These illegal actions were clear evidence of a premeditated act of sabotage aimed at bringing separatism, instability, and disintegration into a peaceful, united, democratic country.

Hostile forces under the cover of populist slogans spread fake news via mobile phones and the Internet and tried to mobilize citizens massively for anti-constitutional actions. This forced us to take measures to temporarily restrict access to the internet”, - the report says.

It should be recalled that on the 1st and 2nd of July this 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 considered 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 studying the opinions and comments expressed by the people of Karakalpakstan, the president declared that the articles of 70, 71, 72, 74, and 75 in the current version of the constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan should remain 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.  Criminal proceedings were initiated 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 regime of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.