Report by the political opposition movement “Erkin O’zbekiston” at the Third Plenary Session of the OSCE ODIHR Warsaw Conference on the Human Dimension (Warsaw, Poland, 7 October 2026). Session topic: “Fundamental Freedoms I”, including the following issues: Freedom of peaceful assembly and association; Human rights defenders; National human rights institutions; Freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief.

Hasanboy Burhanov, “Erkin O’zbekiston” movement.

In the international legal context, the Republic of Uzbekistan is bound by a number of international treaties that establish obligations to respect and protect fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Under the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the European Union and Uzbekistan (EPCA), as well as under the GSP+ scheme, Uzbekistan has also undertaken obligations to comply with international human rights standards.

However, in practice, there remains a serious gap between these commitments and the situation of citizens inside the country.

In order to demonstrate formal compliance with its international obligations, the Mirziyoyev regime has created and maintains a network of organizations that claim to represent civil society.

This creates an outward appearance of compliance with international standards, while in practice the state’s commitments remain unfulfilled.

But pressure on independent political activity does not end at Uzbekistan’s borders.

Particular attention must be paid to transnational repression against the “Erkin O’zbekiston” political movement.

This includes death threats, intimidation, attempts to disrupt peaceful demonstrations, digital attacks, harassment and dehumanization.

The Mirziyoyev regime, by infringing upon the sovereignty of a European state, attempted to disrupt peaceful demonstrations by the Uzbek opposition in Germany through death threats.

Most of our social media pages have been blocked, while the remaining ones are systematically targeted by troll farms. And this does not concern only the “Erkin O’zbekiston” movement. Hundreds of accounts belonging to Uzbek critics of the Mirziyoyev regime living abroad have also been targeted, regardless of their political or ideological affiliation.

I have submitted documented evidence of intimidation and threats to the OSCE ODIHR, requesting that these cases be examined through the relevant mechanisms and special procedures and that appropriate action be taken.

We call on the OSCE not to ignore cases of transnational repression and to ensure continued monitoring of pressure against Uzbek opposition activists, human rights defenders and civil society representatives outside Uzbekistan.

The fact that a person has left Uzbekistan should not mean that they lose the protection of their fundamental freedoms.

Wherever a person may be — in Berlin, Warsaw or Vienna — their right to peaceful assembly and to political and human rights activities must be protected in accordance with international obligations and OSCE standards.

This is precisely why the issue of transnational repression deserves particular attention from the OSCE.

Thank you for your attention!