We inform that on December 12, 2022, the Commission for the Study of the Circumstances and Events that Occurred in the Republic of Karakalpakstan submitted a request to the Prosecutor General's Office on this issue, and the general public became aware that 39 people are currently in custody in the case.

The issue of the use of torture against detainees during the suppression of protests and detention was studied by members of the Independent Commission. Accordingly, according to the analysis of the meetings held with persons held in closed institutions, as well as those brought to administrative responsibility and released, no information was found on cases of mental and physical torture.

In addition, based on the results of the meetings held with D. Tazhimuratov, he reported on the conditions of detention, the absence of torture and psychological pressure. However, during the trial, he stated that he had been injured during his arrest.

A 2022 Human Rights Watch report notes that the composition of the commission conducting an independent study of the demonstrations in Karakalpakstan does not allow it to be recognized as truly independent. But this opinion is not substantiated in the report. It is not clear which members of the commission this international human rights organization treats with distrust.

We are confident that this conclusion of the international human rights organization Human Rights Watch, which leads to humiliation and disrespect for the members of the Commission, is contrary to generally recognized international norms. Moreover, the final conclusion of the Commission has not yet been published. Therefore, it is too early to draw conclusions.

Press Service of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman)