On July 1, protests began in the Karakalpakistan region of Uzbekistan. Karakalpakstan is an autonomous region and has the right to secede via referendum. Its ethnic makeup is about even between Uzbeks and Karakalpaks, both Turkic groups..
In June, Uzbek President and de facto dictator Shvakat Mirziyoyev introduced a set of proposed constitutional amendments that would have (among other things like abolishing his term limit) ended Karakalpakstan's autonomy and right of secession.
These proposals were responded to with protests starting July 1. Even though the amendments were scrapped they have continued. This is likely because of anger at the government as Karakalpakstan has gone from one of Uzbekistan's most prosperous areas to one of the poorest since Uzbek independence.
At latest estimate, the Uzbek government claims 18 deaths and 516 detentions are a result of the protests. The real numbers, particularly for deaths, are likely much higher.
Unlike in the Kazach protests earlier this year, Uzbekistan is not a member of the Russian-led CSTO, which sent in military forces to put an end to Kazachstan's protests.
It is my hope that a peaceful solution can be found, but there are many barriers to this. It is likely Uzbek government policies which have led to the impoverishment of Karakalpakstan, as much of the region's water supply was diverted to cotton growth in the Soviet times and the independent Uzbek government - consisting originally mostly of the old Communist leadership, though many have retired now - only accelerated this policy
