On July 15, 2022, by the joint decision of the Councils of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a commission to conduct an independent investigation into the situation in the Republic of Karakalpakstan was formed. Beginning July 16, members of the Commission consisting of the Ombudsperson, members of the parliament, local and international non-governmental non-profit organisations started their independent review of the situation in the Republic of Karakalpakstan.

The members of the Commission also visited the pre-trial detention center No. 11 in Urgench, Khorezmregion, studied the conditions of the persons detained there, and met with Dauletmurat Tajimuratov too. During the meeting, D.Tajimuratov stated that he had not been subjected to any torture, pressure or harassment during the investigative actions and at the investigative detention center, as well as expressed no objections on the quality of the food and other conditions at the detention center.

Also, Tajimuratov stated that he has a lawyer, and the lawyer is not facing any objections on meetingswith him, that he had a short meeting with family members, and is receiving parcels and orders.

We remind that the activities of the Commission conducting an independent investigation into the situation in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, including the conditions of D.Tajimuratov detained at the pre-trial detention center No. 11 in Urgench and others had been regularly published on the Commission's social media pages Telegram, Facebook, and Twitter and the ombudsman.uz website in Uzbek, Karakalpak, Russian and English languages.

For information: During the monitoring visits of the closed institutions, the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (ombudsman) and the representatives of the public group also met with D.Tajimuratov on May 6, while he was at the pre-trialdetention center No. 1 in Zangiota district, Tashkent region and on September 9, while he was serving his sentence at the penal colony No. 11 in Navoi region.

D.Tajimuratov stated that he did not experienceany torture or harassment during the investigation processes and serving his sentence, he was only dissatisfied with the court sentence issued to him.

We request all independent experts, international organizations and mass media who are reacting to the above issues to rely on the official information and justified facts when preparing their announcements and posts.

Information Service of the Authorized Person of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (ombudsman)