TASS says representative of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretariat Aleksandr Kuznetsov expressed his opinion on the situation in Uzbekistan and its possible impact on the CSTO member nations while delivering a statement at the 9th South Forum of Information Security, Infoforum-Sochi, on July 6.
He, in particular, noted that the situation in Uzbekistan may deteriorate even some time later after Karakalpakstan protests.
"Everything is still extremely unstable, complications are expected… reaction will follow," Kuznetsov said.
He also clarified that the information environment is a means of combined influence on all member nations of the Organization. “And it is with it the situation is becoming more complicated at the moment,” CSTO expert added.
The CSTO is Russia's main political-military bloc, a rough analogue to NATO and the security counterpart to the Eurasian Economic Union. The Organization members include Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan.
Recall, mass protests started in Karakalpakstan on July 1 over proposed constitutional amendments that may deprive the region of the right to exit Uzbekistan via referendum. After start of protest actions,
The Uzbek authorities say at least 18 people were killed and 243 injured during last week’s unrest in Karakalpakstan.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Nukus on July 2 and suggested to keep the constitutional provisions regarding sovereign status of Karakalpakstan unchanged.
The president also declared a month-long state of emergency in the northwestern province home to Karakalpaks, an ethnic minority group whose language is closer to Kazakh than Uzbek. He blamed "foreign forces" on Wednesday for inciting unrest in Karakalpakstan.
