Joanna Lillis

Affiliated media: Eurasianet, Journalist

Incident date: July 4, 2022

Attack type:

• Short-term detention

Who attacked: Authorities

Source: Eurasianet

Location: Uzbekistan, Nukus

Additional information:

On July 1, mass protests over the amendments to the Constitution began in Uzbekistan. Protests took place in cities of the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan and its capital Nukus. Residents are protesting against the amendments to the Constitution that may deprive them of the opportunity to hold a referendum on secession from Uzbekistan. More than 516 people were detained on July 4. In the afternoon, about 200 people gathered outside the main police station in Nukus, hoping to find out if their relatives were among those detained. Eurasianet correspondent Joanna Lillis watched as police officers exited the building to reveal the names of the detainees. When the journalist tried to interview people in the crowd, she was detained by police. She was released an hour later after the police deleted the pictures she had taken from her phone.