Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov

He is a journalist and editor of the independent publication El Xızmetinde ('In the Service of the People'). His work focused on the social and economic problems of Karakalpakstan, discrimination against ethnic Karakalpaks, and the environmental consequences of the Aral Sea's desiccation. He is also a human rights defender and lawyer who worked on cases involving land disputes, violations of citizens' rights, and unlawful detentions.

On 1 July 2022, Tazhimuratov and other residents of Nukus held a rally 'for the freedom of Karakalpakstan' outside the parliament building. He was detained for calling for an unauthorised rally. This sparked mass unrest, as Tazhimuratov's supporters demanded his release. When he emerged from the detention centre, a crowd of supporters greeted him and dressed him in a traditional chapan robe and a tubeteika skullcap. He was lifted onto the roof of a car, where the crowd chanted: 'Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov is our new leader, the new head of Karakalpakstan.' On 8 July, the Prosecutor General's Office charged him with conspiracy to seize power and overthrow the constitutional order. The court sentenced him to 16 years in prison.

2020s

Reading time: 6 minutes

The Final Statement

‘I won’t hide it–my dream is independence.’

On 17–18 June, rumours began circulating among the people that the sovereignty of the republic was going to be abolished. I was surprised, as I had good relations with the local authorities, yet I had heard nothing about this. So I thought it was a lie.

On 19 June, I called Senator Ulugbek Jalmenov. He began praising my videos, and then I asked him, ‘Are they planning to abolish the sovereignty of the Republic of Karakalpakstan?’ He replied, ‘Yes, yes, Dauletmurat, that is what will happen, but it will be for the best. Karakalpakstan will become part of Uzbekistan, under Uzbekistan’s protection. You understand yourself–the Aral Sea is in this state, you know what it is like.’ I asked him to clarify: ‘And what is your opinion?’ He replied, ‘What can I say when everyone supports this unconditionally?’ I got angry and said, ‘What are we going to tell the next generation tomorrow?’

Half an hour later, a man from the Ministry of Justice called me and said, ‘Dauletmurat, something smells fishy.’ I jumped to my feet. I had two assistants working at my house, so I took them with me and went to the State Security Service (SSS). There, I met with Zhalgas Zhumabekov and asked him what was going on. He reassured me that nothing serious would happen. Then, on 24 June, news emerged that they apparently intended to remove the articles on sovereignty from the Constitution. I was stunned. I made up my mind then and there that I would raise this issue. I told my family, and they supported me. We are human beings; we need freedom. Let us raise this issue.

We held a meeting at the Tashkent Hotel. Meanwhile, the SSS and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were already outside my house. They asked me not to get involved. I told them that I was determined and would not back down.

At that time, Lola Kallikhanova published her video address. I then asked an acquaintance to tell her to take the video down, warning her that otherwise she would be in serious trouble. She did not remove it. So I released my own video to shift the focus onto me rather than her.

On 1 July, I was informed that a meeting would be held involving the Senate, ministries, and journalists. In fact, the only journalists there were from television. I decided to get to the bottom of the matter and find out who had come up with the idea of abolishing sovereignty in the first place. I went to see the senator, but he was at the meeting, so I was asked to wait. When he came out, I immediately asked him, ‘Whose idea was it to deprive us of our sovereignty?’ He tried to change the subject. I asked him three times. Eventually, he replied, ‘The Oliy Majlis.’

…

I am concerned for the Republic of Uzbekistan. I will not hide it–my dream is independence, but that does not mean I am demanding it, Your Honour.

I want to tell the people that this whole idea of giving up sovereignty did not come from Uzbekistan’s government, and the government is not to blame for it. It was our own people, the Karakalpaks, who came up with it. They put forward this proposal to make Uzbekistan, as the governing state, look good. There is one thing I am glad about: unlike everyone else, I am not demanding freedom here and now. Because my conscience is clear before Allah, and He does not send us such trials without a reason.

The final statement was delivered in the Karakalpak language:

On 17–18 June, rumours began circulating among the people that sovereignty was going to be abolished. I was surprised. I had good relations with everyone in the republic, and I thought it was a lie.

On 19 June, I spoke with Ulugbek Jalmenov. He mentioned and praised one or two of my videos. I was not in the mood, but I decided to ask him something. I asked whether the sovereignty of the Republic of Karakalpakstan was going to be abolished. He said, ‘Yes, Dauletmurat, that is what will happen, but it will be for the best. Karakalpakstan and Uzbekistan will become one united state, with Karakalpakstan under Uzbekistan’s protection.’ I said, ‘What are you talking about?’ He replied, ‘You know yourself what the Aral Sea is like, what condition it is in.’

‘All right, what is your opinion?’ I asked.

‘What can my opinion be when everyone supports it unconditionally?’

I threw my phone down. ‘What are you going to tell the next generation tomorrow?’ I said.

Half an hour later, a young man from the Ministry of Justice called me. ‘Dauletmurat, something smells fishy,’ he said. I jumped to my feet. I had two assistants at home. I went to the SSS to see Zhalgas Zhumabekov and ask what was going on. He reassured me, saying that nothing would happen. Then, on 24 June, the news came out. I was stunned.

I decided to raise this issue. My family cried. I said that I could not take this on. My family agreed to support me. They told me the country was peaceful and urged me to stop. But we are human beings, aren’t we? We need freedom. Let us raise this issue. We held a meeting. Meanwhile, the SSS and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were already outside the house. I said I would not listen to anyone. They pleaded with me, but I did not listen.

Around that time, Lola Kallikhanova released her video. I told someone close to me to ask that girl to take it down and not leave it online. That message was not passed on to her, and she did not remove the video. I released my own video so that the girl would not get into trouble.

On 1 July, I decided to find out who had come up with the idea and hear it from that person directly.

‘Dauletmurat, a meeting is taking place. The senators and ministers are discussing that Constitution. Journalists have also been invited, but only television journalists.’

I went there. When they saw me, they were visibly taken aback. The senator was there, speaking in the assembly hall. I waited until he came out.

‘I have a question for you. Who came up with the idea of abolishing Karakalpakstan’s sovereignty?’ I asked.

He tried to change the subject.

‘It came from the Oliy Majlis,’ he said.

…

I am deeply concerned for the Republic of Uzbekistan. I will not hide it–my dream is independence, but that does not mean I am demanding it, Your Honour.

What I want to tell the people is that this did not come from Uzbekistan; Uzbekistan is not to blame. This idea came from our own people. What I mean is that our own people put forward this proposal to make themselves look good in Uzbekistan’s eyes.

There is one thing I am glad about: unlike others, I am not demanding freedom right now. Because my heart is pure before Allah.

Bukhara Regional Court, Nukus, Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan
1 December 2022
Source: Translation of the Gazeta.uz live broadcast.
More information about the case: HOOK.
Photo: Gazeta.uz.