“Uzbekistan Referendum: President’s Term Extended to 2040 Amidst Strict Control and Censorship”

The citizens of Uzbekistan go to the polls this Sunday to vote on changes to the country’s constitution. However, few doubt that the amendments to the constitution will be supported.

This will open the possibility for the current president of the country, Shavkats Merziyoyev, to remain in office until 2040. Considering that Merziyoyev is now 65 years old, it could be said that this will almost ensure his reign for the rest of his life.

Amendments to the Basic Law envisage extending the president’s term of office from five to seven years, as well as allowing the current head of state to run for two more terms. Also, it is promised to protect human rights more strictly and it is proposed to ban the death penalty.

Authorities say the changes to the constitution will help improve governance and the quality of life in the country of 35 million people. In Uzbekistan, citizens’ rights and freedoms have been strictly controlled and restricted since the collapse of the USSR. There is no significant political opposition in the country. Censorship in the state-controlled media has reportedly increased ahead of the referendum.

However, the Uzbek authorities have tried to give the popular vote a democratic tone. Various campaign events involving local celebrities were held to praise the president and the proposed changes.

An example of advertising – posters in the capital city of Tashkent show an imaginary conversation between a father and a son. The son offers to go to the park, but the father replies that he must go to vote first.

Initially, the changes in the constitution also provided for the limitation of the autonomy of the autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan. Last year, residents demonstrated against it, which were brutally suppressed. At least 21 people died that time. However, the controversial changes from the constitutional amendment disappeared.

It should be reminded that Merziyojev came to power in 2016 after the death of the previous leader Islam Karimov. Before that, he was prime minister for a long time. Merziyojev carried out several reforms, including limiting forced employment in cotton fields.

Analysts say only time will tell whether the greater human rights protections offered in the new constitution will remain on paper or be put into practice.

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