An Uzbek activist who has campaigned for the rights of people in the Uzbek region of Karakalpakstan faces possible extradition after Kazakhstan denied his asylum request, according to the activist´s supporters.
Aqylbek Muratbai, who has lived in Kazakhstan for years, was arrested in February at the request of Uzbek authorities and a Kazakh commission ruled against his asylum request on Friday, his supporters said. New Kazakh regulations allow Muratbai to be moved to Uzbekistan “at any time,” according to Muratbai’s account on the X platform. His lawyer plans to appeal.
Karakalpakstan is an arid, semi-autonomous area in the northwest of Uzbekistan that was the scene of deadly violence in 2022. Protesters marched in opposition to planned constitutional changes that would have removed that autonomous status, and security units used force to disperse the demonstrations. At least 21 people were killed, including 4 law enforcement officers, according to Human Rights Watch.
Uzbek authorities have since prosecuted Karakalpak activists for crimes including the instigation of riots and sentenced some to long prison terms. At the same time, the government has launched an investment program to develop the long-neglected region.
The Karakalpakstan question is particularly sensitive for Uzbekistan because the national constitution allows the region’s people to choose secession through a referendum.
Muratbai’s camp had said that he would likely face unfair prosecution if he is extradited to Uzbekistan and that the Kazakh asylum process should take that possibility into account, even if maintaining good relations with the Uzbek leadership is also important.
