Activities of Thierry MARIANI related to 2022/2195(INI)
Plenary speeches (1)
Uzbekistan (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on Uzbekistan
Amendments (10)
Amendment 20 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas protests erupted in the Republic of Karakalpakstan on 1 July 2022 following the publication of the proposed amendments to Uzbekistan’s constitution, which would have abolished its status as a sovereign republic within Uzbekistan and its right to secede; whereas at least 21 people were killed in the ensuing crackdown by the authorities; whereas 22 people were sentenced on 13 January 2023 for their participation in the unrest and Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, a lawyer accused of leading the unrest, was sentenced to 16 years in prison; whereas on 7 February 2023 the trial started against another 39 people charged with participating in the protests, but whereas that constitutional amendment was ultimately abandoned;
Amendment 28 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
Recital E
E. whereas Uzbekistan is ranked as ‘not free’ in 2022 Freedom House’s Freedom in the World and Freedom on the Net rankings and is ranked 133rd out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders’ 2022 World Freedom of the Press Index, which has made considerable progress since Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power in 2016, in particular as regards the opening of borders, the release of political prisoners, the abolition of forced labour in cotton fields, the dis man improvement from 157th position in 2021, though the country’s overall score decreasedtling of monopolies and freedom of the press;
Amendment 49 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
Recital F
F. whereas Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs visited Uzbekistan on 23 and 24 February 2022; whereas its Delegation to the EU-Kazakhstan, EU- Kyrgyzstan, EU-Uzbekistan and EU- Tajikistan Parliamentary Cooperation Committees and for relations with Turkmenistan and Mongolia has regularly visited Uzbekistan from 2 to 5 April 2023;
Amendment 52 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
Paragraph 1
1. WelcomNotes the completion of negotiations on the EU-Uzbekistan EPCA agreement, which creates a new, modern and ambitious framework for deepening bilateral relations; reiterates that the agreement puts a strong emphasis on shared values, democracy and the rule of law, human rights and fundamental freedoms, and sustainable development; notes that it also lays the groundwork for enhanced cooperation in foreign and security policy, including on issues such as regional stability, international cooperation and conflict prevention;
Amendment 61 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. NotWelcomes the ambitious reforms planned under the Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan for 2022-2026, which aims to achieve genuine change in the country in socioeconomic development, efficient administration and respect for human rights; stressbelieves that the constitutional reform is an opportunity towill strengthen the rule of law and to give the reforms a solid legal foundation; calls on the authorities of Uzbekistan to continue this process in consultation with citizens and stakeholders, including the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe , based on international norms and best practices;
Amendment 77 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Notes that Uzbekistan is uniquely positioned to be the driving force for regional cooperation that would help Central Asia become a more resilient, prosperous and more closely interconnected economic and political space; encourages the EU Member States to intensify itstheir political engagement with Central Asia in line with its geostrategic importance; underlines the great potential of mutually beneficial cooperation on sustainable connectivity, in particular through its Global Gateway on initiative, energy and security;
Amendment 115 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Regrets the loss of life during protests in the Republic of Karakalpakstan on 1 and 2 July 2022; recalls on the authorities to investigate the actions of the security services that led to deaths and injuries among the protesters and calls on the authorities to bring those responsible to justice; calls for the independence and transparency of the judicial process to be ensured in the cases linked to the proteststhat a preliminary investigation into excessive use of force was launched in December 2022; welcomes the Uzbek authorities’ commitment to maintaining the current constitutional status of Karakalpakstan;
Amendment 120 #
7a. Is concerned about the drying up of the Aral Sea, which, 60 years ago, was the world’s fourth largest inland body of water; condemns the agricultural development projects introduced by Soviet leaders which led to the disappearance of the Aral Sea and had catastrophic consequences for public health and the economy of local communities; welcomes the efforts of the Uzbek authorities to put in place solutions to save the Aral Sea; regrets that this disaster does not receive the necessary attention from the global public;
Amendment 131 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
Paragraph 8
8. Underlines the important role that civil society can play in supporting effective and inclusive reforms and good governance; regrets the barriers to NGO registration and the obligations imposed on NGOs receiving foreign funding by the Regulation on Coordination Between Non-Governmental Non-Commercial Organisations and Public Authorities in the Implementation of International Grant Projects approved by Decree No 328 of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan on 13 June 2022, which shrink the space for civil society activities and impede the exercise of the freedom of association;
Amendment 160 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Notes that despiteWelcomes the adoption of a number of laws, including the Law on Protection of Women from Harassment and Violence of 2019, gender-based violence against women remains widespread; regrets; regrets, however, that domestic violence is not defined or specifically criminalised in Uzbekistan’s legislation; calls on the authorities to take measures to bring Uzbekistan into line with its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, as indicated in the concluding observations on the sixth periodic report of Uzbekistan by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women; calls on Uzbek authorities to work with civil society organisations and international partners to address these issues;