In the final segment of Freedom in the World Rankings; Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan received the highest scores (which means they are the least free) of all the Central Asian states.
Turkmenistan
Political Rights , 7/7
Civil Rights , 7/7
Status , Not Free
Freedom House's report mainly concentrates on former President Niyazov's "iron control' over the Turkmeni people, institutions, and government, noting that "no substantive reforms' have taken place under current President Berdymukhammedov (It must be remembered that much of the research for this report was done in 2006). FH paints a picture of a society ruled by an authoritarian megalomaniac who did what ever he could to stamp out any opposition to his rule. The report does not devote much time to Berdymukhammedov's seizure of power besides acknowledging the criminal charges brought against Ovezgeldy Ataev, his main competitor for the presidency, and that he obtained the backing of the state's Security Council, the country's powerful security and intelligence services. The report acknowledges that Niyazov's legacy of absolute presidential power will be difficult to overcome.
The report describes a nation lacking many political and civil rights. Freedom of speech and press were said to be "severely restricted,' with dissenting political views banned from all media venues. The government is also very constraining on religious groups and NGOs, although they have recently made some superficial openings in regards to the latter. Lastly, FH spotlights the harsh treatment and the limited opportunities of the nation's ethnic minorities, specifically its ethnic Uzbeks, who have at times been forced to relocate.
Uzbekistan
Political Rights , 7/7
Civil Rights , 7/7
Status , Not Free
Freedom House's analysis of Uzbekistan's political and civil rights record is barely better than neighbor to the south, Turkmenistan. Though Uzbek President Karimov has not built up quite the "cult of personality' as President Niyazov, the report asserts he has continued to cement his authority in the state by imprisoning members of an already weakened political opposition, controlling the mass media, and expelling foreign-funded NGOs. FH does a fine job portraying how Karimov has used the 2005 government crackdown in Andijon to further rein in elements in the state that may challenge his rule; Islamists, journalists, opposition figures, etc.
Concerning specific political and civil rights, the report finds that religious and ethnic political parties are prohibited and that the only parties registered are pro-government. While the state's constitution provides for guarantees of free speech, legislation has been passed that curtails political discussions about Karimov or the government. After the Andijon incident in 2005, foreign media representatives have found it very difficult to operate in the country and many of their local bureaus have been closed.
In regards to religion, the government does permit the existence of certain mainstream religions, including Islamic and Jewish communities, but there is strict control over Islamic worship as the state greatly fears Islamic radicalism. Many members of Islamic groups have been arrested and tortured for their religious views. Lastly, foreign NGOs, especially ones from the United States and Europe, have been targeted by the Uzbek government for temporary or permanent closure, including Freedom House, Eurasia Foundation, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, etc.
Gas, Gas, Gas: RadioFreeEurope reports on a new gas deal between Russia's Gazprom and Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan that will likely increase prices for their European and Central Asian customers.
A few months ago, I wrote about the early stages of the conflict in Ukraine through the lens of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War. While it appears likely that the war will carry on into the foreseeable future, enough time has passed for us to make an honest assessment of each side’s relative […]
The Ukrainian Army has made dramatic strides in the last few weeks. Ukraine’s tactical commanders have outfoxed their Russian counterparts, and by issuing a feint towards the south the UA has been able to earn substantial gains in the north of their country. The impact of these efforts have been compounded by the steady stream […]
In mid-May the Irish political party, Sinn Féin, won the plurality of seats in the Northern Ireland Assembly. Many American readers might not fully understand the significance of Sinn Féin’s political victory- but rest assured that subjects of the United Kingdom and a wide range of political movements the world over have heard the message […]
The first wave of the Russian offensive in Ukraine has fallen short of Russian autocrat Vladmir Putin’s ambitions. Most analysts deduced that Putin had hoped to achieve a decapitation strike of the Ukrainian government- taking Kiev and replacing Ukrainian President Vladimir Zolinski with a pro-Kremlin voice. Kiev has been threatened repeatedly through the course of […]
On the weekend of March 26th, the notorious MS-13 gang went on a massive killing spree in El Salvador which left more than 70 people dead by Sunday. Even for a country where powerful gangs hold massive sway, this recent tragedy stands out considering that it was the bloodiest day on record since the civil […]
