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The autonomous zone of Karakalpakstan in Uzbekistan protested against planned constitutional changes that would have stripped it of its constitutional right to secede based on a national referendum.
Within a week of proposing a wide range of constitutional amendments, the Uzbek government backtracked on a few changes that sparked large protests in Nukus, Karakalpakstan's capital.
Although the internet was shut off within the region of protests, some disturbing footages emerged and were widely circulated online, including a video purporting to show a blood covered street in Nukus, Uzbekistan following protests.
Was the Street in Nukus Covered in Blood?
Social media users, media outlets, and journalists have widely circulated a video purporting to show a blood covered street in Nukus following protests.
Social media users immediately reacted to the videos, insisting that the absence of bodies in the video is questionable. Many also commented on the fact that the casualties’ number, 18, does not match with the amount of red-colored liquid covering the street. Arguably, it would take hundreds of casualties to get a similar amount of blood on the street.
Uzbek public personalities and journalists have posted clarifications regarding the incident.
Co-founder and Secretary-General of Europe-Uzbekistan Association for Economic Cooperation (EUROUZ), Oybek Shaykhov, tweeted about his surprise with international journalists’ reports of blood covering the street in Nukus. Shaykhov shared an image of a Belarus tank spraying protestors with red-dyed water to illustrate that this practice is used worldwide.
Uzbek journalist Khikmatilla Ubaydullaev also tweeted explaining that the practice of spraying protestors with dyed-water to mark them is used by many countries around the world.
On the other hand, the Reuters correspondent Agnieszka Pikulicka deleted her tweet reporting that blood covered a street in Nukus following protests. Pikulicka explained that she deleted her tweet after many pointed out that the allegation might not be true.
The Use of Colored Water During Protests
Misbar investigated the use of dyed water during protests to see whether the practice is commonly used or not. We found that when water cannons are infused with colored dyes, rioters can easily be identified and detained after crowds disperse. The practiced is used by many countries around the world as can be seen below.
International Calls for Probe Into Police Brutality During Protests in Nukus
The reports on the recent protests and the circulating videos have caused serious concern.
Amnesty International's Eastern Europe and Central Asia Director, Marie Struthers, responded to reports of unlawful force used in Nukus that left at least 18 protesters dead following a demonstration against a proposed amendment to the Constitution:
“We are concerned that the Uzbekistani authorities are resorting to their usual tactics of silencing critical voices and blocking information, including through a newly declared state of emergency. Cutting off internet and mobile communications in Nukus is stopping the world from knowing what happened over the weekend.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, also called for an independent and transparent investigation into the deaths of 18 people during clashes at protests in the Uzbek region of Karakalpakstan.
Misbar’s Sources:
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