European Union Upholds Sanctions
European Union Upholds Sanctions
The European Union’s decision to uphold sanctions against Uzbekistan has been welcomed by human right’s activists but NBCentralAsia observers say sanctions may not ultimately change the situation in the country.
On May 14, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers decided to prolong the sanctions imposed on Uzbekistan in light of Tashkent’s refusal to allow an international investigation into the Andijan violence of May 2005.
The sanctions include an embargo on selling weapons to Uzbekistan – continued for another year – and a visa ban for eight senior officials, which is prolonged for six months. The EU softened the latter measures by striking four people off the original list of 12 banned from entering Europe.
Tashkent has not yet commented on the EU’s decision.
NBCentralAsia observers believe the continued sanctions could help improve the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, but they will not bring about a fundamental change in the social and political situation.
“It is likely that Uzbekistan will make some insignificant moves, but the most important component of the political regime – anti-democratic rule - will remain unchanged,” said Atanazar Aripov, head of the unregistered Erk opposition party.
The director of the Centre for Political Initiatives, Iskander Khudaibergenov, thinks the EU was right to prolong the sanctions, but he says it is still unclear whether the measures will be effective.
“The tough conditions are certainly gratifying for joy, insofar as they mean the EU has changed its view, or that it is standing firm,” said Khudaibergenov. “It is by no means a cause for celebration for those who are still hoping for change, because it is still unclear whether that will be forthcoming.”
However, some observers, including the director of Human Rights Watch’s Tashkent office, Andrea Berg, say the sanctions have had a positive result so far, and there is some hope that extending them will improve the situation.
The turnaround in the verdict against human rights activist Umida Niazova is one such success. On May 8, her sentence was reduced from seven years imprisonment to a suspended sentence, which some observers say was a bid by the authorities to influence the EU’s decision.
Niyazova was accused of illegally crossing the border and distributing “anti-constitutional” publications.
”Human Rights Watch believes that sanctions are a very important instrument in the EU-Uzbek relationship. The change in Niazova’s sentence proves that sanctions do have some effect,” said Berg.
“We are sure that if the EU is careful to emphasise every issue [where progress is] achieved or which remains unresolved, more positive results will follow.”
(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region.)
On May 14, the EU Council of Foreign Ministers decided to prolong the sanctions imposed on Uzbekistan in light of Tashkent’s refusal to allow an international investigation into the Andijan violence of May 2005.
The sanctions include an embargo on selling weapons to Uzbekistan – continued for another year – and a visa ban for eight senior officials, which is prolonged for six months. The EU softened the latter measures by striking four people off the original list of 12 banned from entering Europe.
Tashkent has not yet commented on the EU’s decision.
NBCentralAsia observers believe the continued sanctions could help improve the human rights situation in Uzbekistan, but they will not bring about a fundamental change in the social and political situation.
“It is likely that Uzbekistan will make some insignificant moves, but the most important component of the political regime – anti-democratic rule - will remain unchanged,” said Atanazar Aripov, head of the unregistered Erk opposition party.
The director of the Centre for Political Initiatives, Iskander Khudaibergenov, thinks the EU was right to prolong the sanctions, but he says it is still unclear whether the measures will be effective.
“The tough conditions are certainly gratifying for joy, insofar as they mean the EU has changed its view, or that it is standing firm,” said Khudaibergenov. “It is by no means a cause for celebration for those who are still hoping for change, because it is still unclear whether that will be forthcoming.”
However, some observers, including the director of Human Rights Watch’s Tashkent office, Andrea Berg, say the sanctions have had a positive result so far, and there is some hope that extending them will improve the situation.
The turnaround in the verdict against human rights activist Umida Niazova is one such success. On May 8, her sentence was reduced from seven years imprisonment to a suspended sentence, which some observers say was a bid by the authorities to influence the EU’s decision.
Niyazova was accused of illegally crossing the border and distributing “anti-constitutional” publications.
”Human Rights Watch believes that sanctions are a very important instrument in the EU-Uzbek relationship. The change in Niazova’s sentence proves that sanctions do have some effect,” said Berg.
“We are sure that if the EU is careful to emphasise every issue [where progress is] achieved or which remains unresolved, more positive results will follow.”
(News Briefing Central Asia draws comment and analysis from a broad range of political observers across the region.)
