While Shavkat Mirziyoyev continues to deceive the international community, accumulating various loans and plunging the country into debt bondage, his security services, following the worst traditions of notorious terrorists, are attempting to silence the voice of freedom represented by the political opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston.”

According to our informants, in the last decade of April, officers of the State Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan carried out preventive detentions of the relatives, friends, and supporters of Hasanboy Burhanov, the founder of the opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston.”

Plainclothes agents, accompanied by armed men in camouflage, interrogated Burkhanov’s close associates and supporters for hours.

During these prolonged and baseless interrogations, the detainees were forced to speak derogatory words about Burhanov on camera, to discredit and curse him and the members of the “Erkin O’zbekiston” opposition movement.

Out of fear of reprisals, Burhanov’s relatives have refrained from communicating with him for a long time. Despite being aware of this, Uzbek security services continue to demand that they, by any means, compel the opposition leader to return to Uzbekistan.

This is not the first instance in which Uzbek security services have brazenly raided the homes of Burhanov’s relatives, harassing them and demanding that they disclose his whereabouts.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his criminal regime have repeatedly threatened Burhanov and continue to do so.

They have made it abundantly clear that if Burhanov does not cease his political activities, he will be physically eliminated.

By taking innocent people hostage and employing terrorist methods against his opponents, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has become no different from the terrorists he claims to oppose.

The systematic threats against Burhanov began in January 2019.

Participants in the Uzbek “troll factory” residing in Canada and Uzbekistan have repeatedly and openly called on their supporters and the Uzbek authorities to abduct Burhanov from Germany or to eliminate him, and to persecute all supporters of the political opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston.”

On October 18, 2019, the central state news agency of Uzbekistan, uza.uz, published a slanderous and false article about Burhanov. The level of fear that Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his corrupt officials must have for Burhanov is evident in their decision to discredit the opposition leader through one of the largest news agencies in Central Asia, a site accessible in nine major languages.

Every activity, especially political opposition, carries risks, including risks to life and health.

When we began our opposition activities, we fully understood and analyzed these risks.

A small group of corrupt individuals and criminals have seized power in Uzbekistan through unconstitutional means.

Recognizing this reality, we, as citizens of Uzbekistan and true patriots, cannot remain indifferent to the fate of our homeland.

We witness how the country is being rapidly plundered and driven into debt bondage.

We see how the ignorant and grossly incompetent policies of Mirziyoyev and his circle are endangering the lives of millions in the region. The technological disaster at the “Sardoba” reservoir in the Syrdarya region is clear evidence of our concerns.

Among the millions of compatriots living abroad, and by virtue of our birth in this country, we believe it is our duty to state that Uzbekistan, a diverse and multiethnic nation, needs a new president and a competent government. We can achieve this; we can build a Free Uzbekistan!

The political opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston” adheres to democratic principles, norms, and values in its activities. For this reason, we will pursue our goals and objectives through civilized means.