Time to talk about Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most repressive and closed countries. Independent journalists, bloggers, lawyers, and civic activists who speak truth to power are routinely imprisoned, silenced, harassed, or forced into exile in retaliation for their activism. New feature⤵️

Only a passing nod to "cont dialogue on human rights" in the joint statement following President Tokaev's visit to Brussels today, at a time when Kazakh authorities are tightening restrictions on freedom of expression, independent media, and pol opposition activism. iphronline.org/articles/kaz...

“This criminal investigation into Javokhir Muminov, coupled with his allegations of abuse, is reminiscent of a much darker time in Uzbekistan’s history." - @mihrarittmann.bsky.social / @hrw.org Read more⤵️

Yevgeniy Zhovtis, veteran human rights defender from #Kazakhstan, on (long-standing) restrictions on political opposition activism in Kazakhstan and more recent prosecutions of political opposition leaders. www.azattyqasia.org/a/33782120.h...

The arrest of Javokhir Muminov, a rights activist in Kashkadarya, is very reminiscent of a much darker time in #Uzbekistan’s history. Uzbek authorities should release Muminov, investigate his allegations of ill-treatment, & ensure his urgent & adequate medical care. www.hrw.org/news/2026/06...

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is today in #Uzbekistan, a country with a worrying rights record, to discuss "expanding economic partnership" with his Uzbek counterpart. Rights concerns, documented here, shld feature too: www.hrw.org/europe/centr... www.bundespraesident.de/SharedDocs/B...

Good news! This farmer just won his appeal to win back his land 👏🏼 Let's hope this encourages others to fight for their rights and speak out against injustice.

📢 New update on #Turkmenistan by IPHR & TIHR for CIVICUS Monitor documents escalating digital controls; domestic & transnational repression of critics, including disappearances and INTERPOL misuse; and renewed efforts to enforce the government’s prosperity paradigm iphronline.org/articles/tur...

“Kazakhstan’s record of politically motivated prosecution of critics, activists, and others engaged in peaceful expression of critical views is well-documented. But Kazakhstan also has a growing and troubling record of using psychiatric detention as another abusive repression tactic.”

#Kazakhstan authorities should never use psychiatry as a form of coercion against people and should immediately withdraw the grounds used to justify Yakov Vorontsov’s forced psychiatric detention and mental health examination and release him, HRW said. www.hrw.org/news/2026/05...

There’s been no accountability for Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov’s prolonged, arbitrary detention. Releasing him from his unjust imprisonment is the place to start. Ensuring that no one is unjustly locked up for exercising their right to freedom of expression is the ideal. www.hrw.org/news/2026/05...

More Red Tape: #Kazakhstan Extends Control Over the Arts The creative industry says new regulations could become a threat to free expression vlast.kz/english/6857...

#Uzbekistan's Domestic Violence Reforms Fall Short Concrete Measures Needed to Protect Survivors www.hrw.org/news/2026/03...

Farmers, Courts, and Investors: Examining Recent Land Disputes in #Uzbekistan timesca.com/farmers-cour...

#Uzbekistan may have succeeded in rooting forced labour out of the cottonfieds - but farmers still face strong-arm tactics. Dig into my latest Substack, looking at a troubling new report from @uzbekforum.bsky.social + @hrw.org @mihrarittmann.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/joannali...

Cotton and coercion in #Uzbekistan In her most recent Substack post, @joannalillis.bsky.social talks cotton and Uzbekistan, ending state-imposed forced labor and the continued risks farmers of cotton and wheat face in #Uzbeksitan's coercive production system. open.substack.com/pub/joannali...

Kudos to Kun.uz for covering the recent @hrw.org @uzbekforum.bsky.social report on violations of the rights of cotton and wheat farmers in #Uzbekistan (in Uzbek) kun.uz/news/2026/02...

@cottoncampaign.bsky.social: "Farmers in #Uzbekistan should be allowed to exercise their fundamental right to #FreedomOfAssociation, which is essential to eliminate ongoing risks of #ForcedLabor in the #cotton sector." tinyurl.com/4edr7dk6

#Uzbekistan & #Cotton: cotton pickers are no longer forced to pick cotton, but farmers are still locked into a system that puts them at risk of exploitation and conditions of forced labor. Article by @umidaniyazova.bsky.social @thediplomat.com tinyurl.com/2c44tht2

🚨 NEW joint report with @uzbekforum.bsky.social exposes how Uzbekistan’s state quota system still coerces cotton and wheat farmers, despite official reforms. 👉 Farmers continue to face pressure, penalties, and even land loss. It’s time to end these abuses. 📘 Read the report: https://bit.ly/46fDOKm

“It is as if we have become hired workers for someone, not landowners” - a cotton farmer from the Khorezm region. A new @hrw.org - @uzbekforum.bsky.social report examines the coercive state production system of cotton & wheat in #Uzbekistan. More here: hrw.org/news/2026/02...

#Uzbekistan ended state-imposed forced labor in the cotton harvest in 2021, but authorities continue to violate the human and labor rights of cotton and wheat farmers through a coercive state production system. More in a NEW @uzbekforum.bsky.social - @hrw.org report - www.hrw.org/news/2026/02...

Azattyk Asia reporting today on land seizures from farmers in #Uzbekistan - www.azattyqasia.org/a/uzbekistan... Watch this space for new @hrw.org @uzbekforum.bsky.social report on abuse, exploitation of cotton and wheat farmers in #Uzbekistan tomorrow!

#Kazakhstan's draft constitution would severely weaken checks on executive power and fundamental human rights protections, says @hrw.org. Police have responded to public criticism of the draft - which will be put to a vote on March 15 - with intimidation and arrests. www.hrw.org/news/2026/02...

В #Узбекистане в отношении каракалпакского политзаключенного Даулетмурата Тажимуратова возбуждено новое уголовное дело Новое дело может добавить Тажимуратову до 10 лет лишения свободы vlast.kz/novosti/6839...

Such great reporting by @vlastkz.bsky.social on continued restrictions on freedom of association and labor rights activism in #Kazakhstan's oil sector (and in English too). vlast.kz/english/6822...

I continue to receive credible reports of torture & other abuses against Karakalpak HRD Dawletmurat Tajimuratov, serving a 16-year sentence in #Uzbekistan. I urge the govt to release him &, meanwhile, ensure his safety & regular visits by the UN & other international independent monitors.

I’m hearing disturbing news that the hearing of the Nagyz Atajurt activists in #Kazakhstan is now continuing behind closed doors. This raises serious concerns about the fairness of the trial.

«Авторитарная волна». Государства Центральной Азии ограничивают гражданские свободы, принимают репрессивные законы, власти этих стран подвергают критиков преследованиям, говорится в отчете Human Rights Watch, опубликованном 4 февраля. www.azattyqasia.org/a/kak-v-stra...

В 2025 власти Таджикистанa провели парламентские выборы без участия международных наблюдателей, укрепив власть правящей партии. Несколько журналистов и общ.деятелей были приговорены к длительным срокам. Больше об этом во Всемирном Докладе 2026 @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/ru/world-rep...

Власти #Кыргызстанa в 2025 осудили нескольких журналистов, СМИ, и правозащитников за выражение их мнения, и провели правовые реформы еще больше ограничивающие права граждан на информацию и свободу мнения. Больше об этом во Всемирном Докладе 2026 @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/ru/world-rep...

В 2025 власти #Узбекистанa преследовали активистов и блогеров за их законную правозащитную и информационную деятельность. Заключенные и задержанные сообщали о пытках и жестоком обращении. Больше об этом во Всемирном Докладе 2026 @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/ru/world-rep...

Власти #Туркменистанa прдолжили существенно ограничивать право на свободу выражения мнений, ассоцаций, вероисповедания, и мирных собраний. Доступ к Интернету под контролем, критики режима внутри и вне страны притесняются. Больше об этом во Всемирном Докладе 2026 @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/ru/world-rep...

В 2025 власти #Казахстанa ограничивали свободу выражения мнений, собраний, и преследовали критиков режима. Несмотря на усиление борьбы с насилием в отн. женщин домашнее насилие все еще не криминализировано. Больше об этом во Всемирном Докладе 2026 @hrw.org: www.hrw.org/ru/world-rep...

In 2025, the #Tajikistan government solidified the ruling party's power thru parliamentary elections held w/o independent observers & continued its crackdown on dissent by sentencing public figures & journalists to long prison terms. More in @hrw.org's 2026 World Report: www.hrw.org/world-report...

#Turkmenistan’s government in 2025 continued to severely restrict civil & political rights. There's no independent media. Authorities routinely target civic activists, government critics & their families (incl those in exile). More in @hrw.org's 2026 World Report: www.hrw.org/world-report...

In 2025, the #Kyrgyzstan government charged & convicted several journalists, media outlets, & a rights defender w/ speech related offenses. Legal reforms also curtailed the rights of citizens to information, expression, & belief. More in @hrw.org's 2026 World Report: www.hrw.org/world-report...

In 2025, authorities in #Uzbekistan continued to restrict independent rights activism & freedom of expression, targeting activists, bloggers, & others w/ unfounded criminal charges. 2 bloggers remained in forced psychiatric detention. More in @hrw.org's 2026 World Report: www.hrw.org/world-report...

In 2025, authorities in #Kazakhstan continued to heavily restrict freedoms of expression, association, & assembly; persisted in prosecuting govt critics on overbroad “extremism” charges; & ushered in a discriminatory anti-LGBT law. More in @hrw.org's 2026 World Report: www.hrw.org/world-report...

Trump-led abuses amid ‘democratic recession’ put human rights in peril, HRW report says

A stream of torture claims involving #Uzbekistan's most prominent political prisoner - #Karakalpakstan community leader Dauletmurat Tajimuratov - undermine the reform narrative promoted by the Mirziyoyev administration joannalillis.substack.com/p/is-torture...

In the nearly three years since Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, a Karakalpak lawyer and journalist, was sentenced to a 16-year prison term there have been consistent reports of his mistreatment, and even torture.

Geopolitics meet human rights concerns in trial of 19 Kazakh protesters facing 10 years in jail over anti-#China protest in #Kazakhstan. 2nd closed hearing under way today, keeping it out of public eye. My report for @eurasianet.bsky.social eurasianet.org/kazakhstan-a...

80 Angry Journalists is not just about the past. It’s about what happens to a democracy when independent media is dismantled and why defending #PressFreedom is crucial, in Hungary and everywhere really. Go see this important documentary, and spread the word! vimeo.com/1147047242?f...

UN rapporteur “gravely concerned by new allegations of torture and ill-treatment against Dawletmurat Tajimuratov and his continued detention". Rights defender Tajimuratov serving 16 years in #Uzbekistan over #Karakalpakstan 2022 violence www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

#Uzbekistan must ensure safety of human rights defender Dawletmurat Tajimuratov and release him immediately: UN expert www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

brass solidarity band performing “stand by me” in the streets of whittier next to alex pretti’s memorial. the crowd started chanting “the people united will never be defeated” so they incorporated it into the song. i love minneapolis

Uzbekistan’s declaration of an anti-corruption “state of emergency” signals a turning point in its decade-long reform efforts.

My latest for @hrw.org: - The UN has problems but it’s better than a global Politburo of leaders of abusive governments. Rather than paying billions to join #Trump’s "Board of Peace", states shld strengthen the UN’s ability to uphold human rights. The Board charter doesn't mention human rights🫤

This is the most astonishing graph of what the Trump regime has done to US science. They have destroyed the federal science workforce across the board. The negative impacts on Americans will be felt for generations, and the US might never be the same again. www.nature.com/immersive/d4...