Karakalpakstan protests 2022

The certificate delays his extradition to Uzbekistan and could lead to the granting of refugee status. But in practice, the country rarely grants refugee status to anyone.

Muratbai has been a vital voice in calling attention to Uzbekistan's persecution of the Karakalpak people. His detention in Kazakhstan is yet another warning shot.

“One of the best of our people has left -- and this further complicates relations between the Karakalpaks and the Uzbek authorities,” a fellow Karakalpak activist told The Diplomat.

Uzbek authorities have told Kazakh authorities that Urazbayev never officially renounced his Uzbek citizenship and therefore Kazakh authorities have revoked his Kazakh citizenship. 

While the releases in Kazakhstan have been welcomed by the Karakalpak community, it’s clear that a sense of unease remains. 

The two men – and three other detained Karakalpak activists – face the potential of being deported to Uzbekistan should their appeals fail.

When civilians were put on trial in relation to the Karakalpakstan unrest, their names were known, their faces splattered across the media. We only have initials for the three law enforcement officers tried.

Tazhimuratov’s 16-year sentence was upheld while terms of others were either reduced or shifted to house arrest.

Karakalpakstan has a constitutional right to secede from Uzbekistan via referendum, but calling for such a vote results in immense pressure and often prison terms.

Amid the crackdown on protests last summer in Nukus, 21 people were killed -- most of them civilians.

Human Rights Watch says Uzbek security forces “unjustifiably” used lethal force to disperse generally peaceful demonstrators this summer.