INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Authorities in Uzbekistan said on Monday 18 people died in clashes in the autonomous Karakalpakstan region when mass protests erupted last
week over planned constitutional changes affecting the territory's status.The unrest, pitting protesters against security forces,
represented the most significant challenge yet to the rule of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev since he rose to power from the post of prime
minister in 2016, when long-serving mentor Islam Karimov died.The size of the protest on Friday was unprecedented for the Karakalpakstan
region and possibly Uzbekistan
on Monday, praising Mirziyoyev's willingness to engage in dialogue over the crisis.In the aftermath of the violence, Mirziyoyev scrapped the
tense calm in the region, where a state of emergency is in effect.The diplomatic reaction to events in the remote region has been muted so
far.On Monday, the European Union called for an independent investigation into "the violent events in Karakalpakstan.""We deeply regret the
casualties and loss of human life and continue to follow developments closely," it said in a statement.Russia, Uzbekistan's traditional ally
and top trade partner ahead of China as of last year, indicated it had no plans to intervene.Moscow, which is pressing ahead with a military
offensive in Ukraine, said the events in Uzbekistan were the country's "internal affair.""We have no doubt that with the active work of the
impoverished Karakalpakstan followed the publication of draft amendments to the constitution that removed the region's right to secede via
detained during the disorder
candidates to run for seven-year terms, directly benefitting Mirziyoyev, who crushed token opponents to secure a second five-year term in
October 2021.Uzbekistan's parliament voted on Monday to extend the period of public discussion on the constitutional reform for another 10
days until July 15.A referendum is expected to take place in the coming months
diverted, largely to expand cotton production.On Sunday, Mirziyoyev made his second visit to Karakalpakstan in two days and accused protest
organizers of "hiding behind false slogans" and trying to "seize the buildings of local government bodies" in an address to local
lawmakers.He has sought to build a "New Uzbekistan" during his reign, which has seen some of the repressive excesses of the Karimov era
the crisis in Karakalpakstan, which has seen major internet disruptions over the last week, has highlighted the limitations of his drive to
immediately respond to a request for comment about the detention of Lillis, who told AFP that she had been released.
