Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev introduced changes to the country’s Constitution, sparking protests in the republic.
For the second day, thousands of protests continued in the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan, which is part of Uzbekistan. Thousands of citizens of the country took to the streets of the city of Nukus. On Saturday, July 2, Radio Ozodlik reported.
The protesters marched in the city, then they gathered in the territory of the central market of dekhkan. According to observers, 20-25 thousand people took part in the action. Demonstrators held the flags of Karakalpakstan in their hands, chanting slogans about the independence of the republic.
The country’s authorities sent additional detachments of security forces from Uzbekistan to the region, and in the republic during the rallies there were disruptions in communications and the Internet.
At the same time, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the republic issued a statement stating that the participants in the rally allegedly tried to seize the administrative buildings.
Uzbek authorities blamed “some citizens” on the incident.
The President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, by his command, initiated a state of emergency in the territory of Karakalpakstan until 2 August.
“By a presidential decree, to ensure the safety of citizens, protect their rights and freedoms, restore law and order in the territory of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, a state of emergency has been introduced for the period from 00:01 on July 3, 2022 to 00:00 on August 2, 2022, “the statement said. in a press release from the president’s office.
Meanwhile, footage from the protests in Uzbekistan is being published online. Videos posted online show the sounds of explosions and gunshots. The footage also shows what the casualties looked like during the crackdown on the protests.
Another video from #Karakalpakstan according to SVTV News pic.twitter.com/2dIrQABzf3
– Agnieszka Pikulicka (@Aga_Pik) July 2, 2022
The Republic of Karakalpakstan is the largest region of Uzbekistan, covering 40% of the country’s territory, but its population is slightly more than 5% of the total population of Uzbekistan. Two official languages are recognized in the republic: Karakalpak and Uzbek. In 1990, the Supreme Council of the Karakalpak ASSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty. But in 1993, an inter -state agreement was signed on Karakalpakstan’s entry into Uzbekistan.
Republic of Karakalpakstan
Residents of the republic were outraged at the draft changes to the constitution of Uzbekistan, which were submitted for public discussion on June 26. The constitutional reform included, among other things, the removal of the word “sovereign” in description of the status of the Republic of Karakalpak, as well as mention of the right of Karakalpakstan to secede from Uzbekistan by a referendum.
It will be recalled that on June 1, residents of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, which is part of Uzbekistan, went on mass protests against changes to the Constitution of Uzbekistan.
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Source: korrespondent
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.