U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) – Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe – has introduced the Central Asia Democracy and Human Rights Promotion Act (HR 5382), legislation aimed at advancing human rights and fundamental freedoms in the region. Roughly 15 years after independence, the five countries of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) continue to struggle through the transition from Soviet authoritarian rule to democratic societies that fully respect human rights. 

    “The United States must lead by doing everything possible to encourage the five governments of Central Asia to foster greater freedom and protection of basic human rights,” said Smith. “The Central Asia Democracy and Human Rights Promotion Act will bring greater consistency to US policy, creating a framework to guide our bilateral relations in Central Asia.” 

    The bill provides increased funding for human rights work in the region, while establishing a certification mechanism through the State Department in order for assistance to be distributed to each government. The Secretary of State must determine whether each country has made “significant improvements in the protection of human rights.” This process will have a national security waiver for each of the five countries and is modeled on the current policy established for Kazakhstan in the annual Foreign Operations appropriations bill.

    “One year ago, Uzbek security forces massacred hundreds of demonstrators in the town of Andijon and my bill includes sanctions against the regime of Islam Karimov,” Smith said. “The human rights situation in Uzbekistan has deteriorated significantly since the killings and sanctions will cause Karimov to rethink his policy of isolation while also sending a message from the international community that this behavior is unacceptable.”

    According to eyewitness accounts, on May 12-13, 2005, after the seizure of government buildings in Andijon, Uzbek security forces fired into a large crowd of demonstrators killing hundreds. Uzbek President Islam Karimov rebuffed calls by the United States, the European Union and the OSCE for an independent, international investigation. Ties between Washington and Tashkent have deteriorated sharply since the Andijon events. 

    The sanctions established by the bill puts into statute the funding limitations on Uzbekistan now in place in the FY06 Foreign Operations appropriations bill. In addition, the bill mirrors European Union sanctions by establishing a visa ban and arms ban. The bill also establishes an asset freeze which, like the visa ban, would apply to Uzbek officials, their family members, and their associates implicated in the shootings or involved in other violations of human rights.

    Original cosponsors include Reps. Mike McIntyre (D-NC), Thaddeus G. McCotter (R-MI), Tom Lantos (D-CA), Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA), Dan Burton (R-IN), and Jo Ann Davis (R-VA).