The recently signed EU-Uzbekistan Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement has become a focal point of controversy due to persistent human rights concerns in Uzbekistan. While the agreement commits to respect for democratic principles and fundamental freedoms as essential elements, human rights organizations assert that the accord fails to compel real improvements in Uzbekistan’s troubling rights record.
Defining the Human Rights Situation in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has experienced severe and systematic violations of rights in recent years, including crackdowns on freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. According to Human Rights Watch (HRW), Uzbek authorities routinely suppress independent human rights activism, targeting activists, bloggers, and media practitioners with politically motivated charges such as "insulting the president online." This climate has fostered an atmosphere of fear and repression, with NGOs subjected to onerous registration requirements hindering their operation.
Iskra Kirova, Europe and Central Asia advocacy director at HRW, condemned the agreement, stating:
“In signing this agreement without requiring specific improvements to ensure the ability of independent civic groups or media professionals to carry out their work or address the country’s history of impunity for abuses, the EU has missed an important opportunity to bring about positive change.”
Crackdowns on Peaceful Protest and Detention Abuses
Freedom of assembly remains deeply restricted in Uzbekistan. In July 2022, security forces used disproportionate—and at times lethal—force to suppress protests in the Karakalpakstan autonomous region, leading to many deaths and injuries. The government has since denied accountability.
One prominent case is that of Dauletmurat Tajimuratov, a lawyer and blogger sentenced to 16 years on charges related to his peaceful protest participation. Reports indicate he suffered torture and ill-treatment in custody, allegations dismissed by authorities despite international calls for investigation. The UK, US, and EU have advocated independently for inquiries into his case, highlighting ongoing international concern.
Forced Labor and Labor Rights Concerns
While Uzbekistan has made strides in eliminating state-imposed forced labor in its cotton sector, forced labor and repressive labor practices continue in other agricultural areas. Workers face restrictions on association rights, adding to the broader picture of rights limitations.
The EU’s Response and Criticism
The partnership agreement is set against the backdrop of increasing EU engagement with Central Asia, highlighted by the inaugural EU-Central Asia summit in Samarkand in April 2025. However, critics argue that despite EU statements prioritizing freedom of expression, a conducive environment for civil society, and protection for human rights defenders, these commitments have produced limited tangible improvements.
HRW and other observers contend that the agreement places economic, energy, and security interests—such as transport and raw materials access—ahead of genuine human rights progress.
Iskra Kirova added:
“Rights protections and the rule of law are essential to secure the EU’s interests in this partnership, including for sustainable trade and security cooperation. The European Parliament and EU member states should assert that continued stifling of civic activism and the risks of forced labor imperil bilateral relations.”
Implications for EU’s Credibility on Human Rights
The new agreement presents a test for the EU’s credibility as a human rights advocate in its international partnerships. The absence of enforceable rights-based conditions or mechanisms for accountability may embolden Uzbek authorities to continue repressive practices with impunity.
There is growing pressure for the EU to adopt a firmer stance by requiring Uzbekistan to meet concrete human rights benchmarks, ensuring protections for civil society and media, and addressing impunity for abuses.
Balancing Strategic and Ethical Interests
The EU-Uzbekistan Enhanced Partnership embodies complex geopolitical and economic interests but raises serious ethical questions about prioritizing trade and cooperation over human rights safeguards. Until the EU incorporates stringent human rights obligations and effective monitoring into the partnership, Uzbekistan’s citizens risk continued denial of fundamental freedoms.
This situation requires the EU to reconcile its economic ambitions with its stated commitment to human rights, ensuring that partnerships do not inadvertently legitimize repression.