Uzbek president lifts state of emergency in Karakalpakstan prematurely

TASHKENT. July 20 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree scrapping the state of emergency in the Uzbek autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan on July 21 in response to a request from Karakalpakstan's lawmakers.

"To terminate the state of emergency in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, which was imposed by the presidential decree of July 2, 2022, prematurely at 5 a.m. on July 21, 2022," the document published by the presidential press service on Wednesday said.

A request from Karakalpakstan's Jokargy Kenes (Supreme Council) for an early termination of the state of emergency was taken into consideration, and the fact that public order was restored in the region and the safety of citizens, protection of their rights and freedoms was ensured, it said.

The presidential decree was submitted for approval to the chambers of the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan.

The unrest broke out in Nukus, the capital of Karakalpakstan, on July 1-2. According to the latest data, 21 people were killed, 274 were injured and 516, including foreign citizens, were detained by law enforcement agencies during the riots. The Uzbek Prosecutor General's Office said 14 people had been detained under the Uzbek Criminal Code article for encroachments on the constitutional order.

A state of emergency was declared in Karakalpakstan by a presidential decree from July 3 until August 2. The upper and lower houses of Uzbekistan's Oliy Majlis approved this decision.

A commission to conduct an independent investigation into the unrest in Nukus was set up by a joint decision of the Uzbek parliamentary chambers last Friday.