Comments on: Nations in Transit 2005

By: david l

david l — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 21:47:51 +0000

Yes, and now of course even those formalistic nods towards HR by the Uzbeks seem unlikely – the regime has clearly pulled up the drawbridge. Some pretty dreadful stuff in the Uzbek press and reports that the base is facing problems suggest that the GoU is ready for a total breakdown in relations with US. A najor rift seems inevitable, the question is how to manage it…

By: Nathan

Nathan — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 19:47:03 +0000

I definitely see where you’re coming from. I don’t think they sufficiently make the case for their optimism despite the very minor (and meaningless for most Uzbeks) successes they mention during 2004. Andijon or no, there certainly has been a drift towards rolling things back.

By: david l

david l — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 19:41:02 +0000

The bit you quote tends to support my view that they tend to get things just a little bit wrong. Even before Andijan I don’t think there were many people in Tashkent who believed that there would be some improvement in human rights in 2005. Except perhaps the FH director in Tashkent, but I think their well-meaning programs of dialogue between law enforcement and HR activists in Tashkent actually had a very negative impact. Now they have changed directors, and got rid of that program. Just in time, but I suspect they won’t be in Tashkent much longer anyway.