EU urged to place human rights at the center of dialogue in Central Asia

International organizations have urged the EU to place civil society at the center of the dialogue between the bloc and Central Asia.

The President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will visit Uzbekistan on April 3-4 to participate in the first EU-Central Asia summit. The summit will be chaired by the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, with the participation of the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Against this backdrop, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have called on the European Union to place human rights at the center of the dialogue at the upcoming EU-Central Asia summit.

In a statement published on March 27, 2025, Iskra Kirova, the director of Human Rights Watch for Europe and Central Asia, noted that for negotiations to be effective, they must address serious issues related to human rights violations. In particular, this concerns the arrests of critics and activists, restrictions on civil society activities, and independent media in the region.

“Central Asia is at a crucial moment as the European Union shows a willingness to deepen its political and economic engagement with the region. Long-term progress depends not only on diplomacy, investment, and trade — it also requires respect for human rights and space for civil society to develop and operate freely and without fear,” said Marie Strazhers, director of Amnesty International for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

According to her, the overall situation in the region remains alarming, and authorities maintain strict control over the media and civil society.

“Authorities suppress dissent, peaceful gatherings, and freedom of association, and routinely fail to exercise due diligence on human rights issues, meaning they do not take adequate measures to identify, prevent, and respond to potential human rights violations related to their actions, laws, or policies,” she noted.

Furthermore, international organizations have expressed concern over the deteriorating human rights situation in Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, as well as reported violations in Tajikistan.

In particular, the statement from Human Rights Watch indicates that Tajikistan ranks among the lowest in the world for freedom of speech. The authorities of the country, especially after the protests in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) in 2021-2022, have tightened control over the media. Currently, several journalists, including Ulfatkhonim Mamadshoeva, Rukhshona Hakimova, and others, have been sentenced to long prison terms. Manuchehr Kholiknazor, who defended the rights of GBAO residents, has been sentenced to 16 years in prison.

Additionally, in February 2025, the Supreme Court of Tajikistan sentenced several prominent individuals to terms ranging from 18 to 27 years on charges of treason. All court proceedings were held behind closed doors.

Human Rights Watch states that the authorities of Tajikistan continue to introduce laws that restrict the activities of independent organizations. Increased control over NGOs, requirements for registration and financial reporting complicate their work, forcing some organizations to cease their activities.

Human Rights Watch urged the European Union to use this summit as a platform to pressure the authorities in the region to release all political prisoners, including journalists and human rights defenders, to repeal laws that restrict freedom of speech and the activities of public organizations, and to conduct an independent investigation into cases of persecution of civil society.

Furthermore, Human Rights Watch emphasizes in its statement that when discussing EU agreements on trade, investment, and expanding cooperation with Central Asia, respect for human rights and the rule of law must be a key condition. The EU should also consider imposing sanctions or restricting trade benefits for countries that grossly violate their international human rights obligations.