Congressman James McGovern Raises Dauletmurat Tajimuratov’s Case with Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister
October 1, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Via Serica Foundation welcomes a letter sent by U.S. Congressman James P. McGovern to Uzbekistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov, raising serious concerns about the imprisonment and treatment of Karakalpak lawyer, journalist, and human rights defender Dauletmurat Tajimuratov. The October 1 letter comes amid renewed concerns about Tajimuratov’s safety and conditions in detention, including allegations of beatings, denial of adequate medical care, and inhumane prison conditions.
Congressman McGovern notes that the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention determined Tajimuratov’s imprisonment to be arbitrary and called for his immediate release. He also raises allegations of torture and ill-treatment and calls on the Government of Uzbekistan to ensure transparency regarding Tajimuratov’s detention and treatment, guarantee access to legal counsel and communication with his family, allow independent monitoring of his detention conditions, and uphold its international human rights obligations.
The letter follows a recent briefing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, where Tajimuratov’s case was discussed. Importantly, Congressman McGovern’s letter also addresses the broader human rights situation in Karakalpakstan, calling on Uzbek authorities to engage constructively with international human rights mechanisms and independent observers regarding allegations of excessive use of force, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on fundamental freedoms following the July 2022 protests.
Via Serica Foundation welcomes Congressman McGovern’s intervention at this critical moment. The continued reports concerning Tajimuratov’s treatment require urgent international attention. We call on the Government of Uzbekistan to ensure his safety, allow independent international access to him, and implement the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention’s call for his immediate release. We are grateful to Congressman McGovern and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for keeping the situation of Tajimuratov and Karakalpakstan before the international community.
Comments