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...

Freedom of Expression Falls in Late 2025, Kazakhstani Watchdog Reports; Pressure on the media has become “routine” - @vlastkz.bsky.social reports vlast.kz/english/6786...

#Kazakhstan: Drop licence revocation proceedings against lawyer Adam Murat, says the International Commission of Jurists www.icj.org/kazakhstan-d...

HRW призывает Астану снять обвинения с активистов «Нағыз Атажұрт», преследуемых после сожжения китайского флага rus.azattyq.org/a/hrw-prizyv...

#Kazakhstan: Activists protesting China’s repression of ethnic Kazakhs face up to 10 years in prison in a case that reflects political pressure and violates international human rights standards. IPHR & KIBHR call for the case to be dismissed and the activists released: iphronline.org/articles/cri...

The Twin Cities on my mind. US: Minneapolis Killing by ICE Unjustified www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...

#Kazakhstan"should drop charges against 18 Kazakh activists who peacefully protested against Chinese government abuses in #Xinjiang" - @hrw.org They face up 10 years in jail for demanding the release of Alimnur Turganbay, a Kazakh citizen detained in #China www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...

Kazakh activists face 10 year sentence, prosecuted in Kazakhstan, at Chinese government’s request, for their peaceful protest against crimes against humanity in Xinjiang. Kazakh government should drop charges. Beijing should halt targeting critics abroad. www.hrw.org/news/2026/01...

"I want to emigrate." What changed in the life of Sayat Adilbekula, a survivor of torture during #Kazakhstan's Qandy Qantar in January 2022. rus.azattyq.org/a/hochu-emig...

An Astana appeals court upheld the decision to deny accreditation to Azattyk journalists #Kazakhstan. rus.azattyq.org/a/apellyatsi...

📋♿️ Starting from tomorrow #Uzbekistan is conducting a first-ever population and agriculture census since 1989. Gazetauz talked with disability rights activists and myself to find out why disability questions ARE NOT included in the census questionnaire. Read in Uzbek: www.gazeta.uz/oz/2026/01/1...