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...

New @hrw.org research out tomorrow on inadequate pensions and older people experiencing poverty in Hungary 🇭🇺 - interview testimony from older people 👵🏻👴🏻 - difficulties affording food 🍞🥩🍓☕, gas/electricity 🔌💡, medical supplies 💊🤕 - lots of graphs and charts 📊〽️ Media queries to @kooyjan.bsky.social

Once proud of its reputation as Central Asia’s democratic outlier, Kyrgyzstan now looks like a typical resident of the neighborhood: centralized authority, silenced dissent, and fear of open criticism.

FIA dubbed #Uzbekistan "star of the east" during a recent meeting in Tashkent, but did not raise Uzbekistan's problematic rights record. Promoting and conducting business with a country without conducting a human rights impact assessment is risky, says @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...

Kazakhstan joins the ranks of countries that ban so-called LGBT "propaganda." The gov claims this law doesn't violate international treaties ratified by #Kazakhstan, but - make no mistake - it does. vlast.kz/novosti/6765...

IPHR has joined @hrw.org, @amnesty.org, @nhcno.bsky.social, @hfhrpl.bsky.social and four other organisations in calling on Kazakhstan's authorities to end attacks on independent journalists and media outlets, following recent raids, detentions and pressure: iphronline.org/articles/kaz...

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org joined eight other human rights groups to jointly call on the #Kazakhstan government to stop all attacks on independent journalists and media outlets and create an enabling environment for freedom of expression. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...

As the world marks Human Rights Day on December 10, activists in #Turkmenistan, one of the world’s most repressive countries, continue to pay a devastating price for defending those rights. www.hrw.org/news/2025/12...

ARTICLE 19 Europe urges #Kazakhstan's draft law penalizing so-called ‘propaganda of non-traditional sexual orientation' be withdrawn. Its adoption would institutionalise discrimination & heighten risks of violence & exclusion faced by LGBT people in Kazakhstan. www.article19.org/resources/ka...

In light of what's happening with the "anti-LGBT" law in Kazakhstan, I think it's important to listen to this superb podcast in Russian with the superb queer researchers/practitioners voices Salta Shoshanova and Medina Bazargali: www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi4F...

#Kazakhstan: Proposed ‘LGBT Propaganda’ law risks institutionalising discrimination, warn UN experts, urging authorities to reject the proposed amendments & protect LGBT persons and human rights defenders from discrimination and reprisals. www.ohchr.org/en/press-rel...

Seven international human rights groups, including @hrw.org called on lawmakers in #Kazakhstan to reject so called #LGBT "propaganda" proposals when they came for a vote on Weds. Flouting Kazakhstan's international obligations, lawmakers adopted them anyway. www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...

At a time when saving water has become a matter of vital importance in Uzbekistan, it is no less crucial to monitor how the allocated funds are used.

Central Asia-US Summit: Address Region’s Growing Repression Human Rights Should be Key to Economic, Security Ties www.hrw.org/news/2025/11...

#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...

🧵 As #EU governments prepare to meet amid a fragile #Gaza ceasefire, pressure is mounting for them to "drop the stick" they never used on #Israel Caving to that pressure would be yet another blow to their credibility, and to hopes for rights and justice: hrw.org/news/2025/10... #EUCO #FAC ⤵️ 1/7