US Senators Press Biden For Uzbekistan Human Rights Accountability Ahead Of Joint Dialogue

Uzbekistan is in human rights violation and the American senate is putting pressure on the administration for the country to take onus for it. In a letter, this has been stated clearly and the letter has now been made public.

Those who have raised their voices include Senator Bob Menendez (Democrat-New Jersey), the chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, and five other Senate Democrats called on the U.S. administration. All are asking that Uzbekistan's leaders should be pressed on human rights issues during an upcoming dialogue session.

The senators are now insisting that the Central Asian nation should conduct sweeping reforms ‘as promised by President Shavkat Mirziyoev’ earlier. This conversation is starting as both nations are slated to meet soon in the year over the first Strategic Partnership Dialogue.

Uzbekistan is responsible for curtailing freedom of speech of people and media and lack of progress towards political liberalization. The letter states that 'Despite much-lauded reforms, Uzbekistan remains among the world's most repressive countries, and at risk of reversing recent gains.’

The senators have sought the U.S. administration to work with Tashkent to ensure the meaningful reform of Uzbekistan's Criminal Code.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) last month said the October re-election of Mirziyoev to a second term, with no real opposition candidates allowed to run, coincided with "clear setbacks" on the country's human rights record.

Apparently, the current leadership in Uzbekistan is trying to undo damage done by the reigning predecessor, Islam Karimov. But the sentiment remains skeptical about the intentions. One major reason for this is that like his predecessor, Mirziyoev exercises virtually unrestrained political power in Uzbekistan and his relatives have been accused of using his political clout to amass wealth.

The US senators are therefore putting pressure ahead of the upcoming dialogue to let Uzbekistan put down accountability targets towards the damage done earlier.

It is worth mentioning that the upcoming Strategic Partnership Dialogue, the letter points out, is “the first of its kind under the enhanced partnership” and “offers a unique opportunity to establish respect for human rights as a fundamental component” of the U.S.-Uzbekistan relationship.