Speech by Mr Burhanov, founder of the political opposition Movement “Erkin O’zbekiston” (Free Uzbekistan), at the 7th Session of the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference – 2024.

Thank you, Madam Moderator!

My name is Hasanboy Burhanov, representing the “Erkin O’zbekiston” Movement.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I want to draw your attention to the case of Uzbek human rights defender Agzam Turgunov. Due to his professional activities, he was arrested in July 2008 and unlawfully sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Uzbek authorities sent Agzam Turgunov to serve his sentence in the Jaslyk prison colony. Despite being held in one of the most notorious and brutal prisons in the world, this principled human rights defender never gave up hope for his release and for continuing his work.

It was on this very day, October 7, 2017, that Agzam Turgunov regained his freedom.

Since February 2018, he has submitted applications to the Ministry of Justice 15 times for the official registration of his human rights organization. However, the Uzbek authorities blatantly disregard their international legal obligations and have repeatedly denied registration for Agzam Turgunov’s non-governmental organization without any justification.

There are also other civil activists in Uzbekistan who, for many years, have been unable to register their organizations because they refuse to join the ranks of the Mirziyaev regime’s GONGO organizations.

The Putin regime’s terrorist agenda continues to shape both the domestic and foreign policies of Uzbekistan.

In alignment with the Kremlin’s agenda in Uzbekistan, the Mirziyaev regime has intensified its repression of the country’s Muslim population.

The regime forces Uzbekistan’s Muslims to pay homage to monuments of the dictator Karimov, who terrorized our people for many years. It is important to note that Islam—as well as other religions—strictly prohibits the worship of statues, monuments, and idols.

The Mirziyaev regime is implementing a policy aimed at eradicating the national identity and self-awareness of the Uzbek people in order to further the long-reaching plans of Putin’s terrorist regime.

Thank you for your attention.