Bakhtiyar Khamraev, known Uzbek human rights activist, passed away on May 4 after a long lasting illness. The history of his work and his disease can tell about a whole era – about the nature and characteristics of the authoritarian regime in Uzbekistan, the thinking and behavior of Islam Karimov concerning human rights and civil society.

Authoritarianism in Uzbekistan has a clear strategy of exclusion, marginalization and elimination the opposition and civil society in Uzbek society. In this case, the liquidation does not mean a direct physical removal of the activist, but also a systematic and coordinated public policy, in which, the independent and opposition representative in civil society will be forced to either cease activities or the authorities will do anything to put a man out law.

In the context of Uzbekistan to stay cool and moderate is a difficult task. Socio-psychological climate in Uzbekistan is characterized by fever that encourages people to behave aggressively. The authorities’ behavior in society causes resentment and even hatred, as the authorities and their representatives speak to people only in the language of force and violence. Thus, when there is an authoritarianism and dictatorship, power is conceived by people as a source of fear and hatred, not as the authority that is worthy of genuine respect.

The phenomenon of Bakhtiyar Khamrayev in Uzbekistan is instructive in that it is his long-term activity showed some of the most important values ​​of civil society. These values ​​are temperance, stable belief in the values ​​of freedom, and sustained action to protect human rights. The examples in the history of the world show that authoritarianism is enhanced and strengthened when society uses force and violence to overthrow it.

However, when a society consciously rejects military solution, the forcible elimination of power, and when politicians and civil society activists are peaceful, but active – that is when real changes occur. Naturally, while Islam Karimov is on power, it is not possible to talk about the prospects of even peaceful activeness. However, moderate, but yet consecutive activity of Bakhtiyar Khamrayev as a style of political thinking and behavior in the long term can be a very rewarding experience.

The regime cannot speak, all it can do is to mumble. Regime is afraid that if it starts to chat and talk with the public, the people can only talk about negative things, committed by the regime in the country. Regime is not going to change, and change something in the community. It thinks it is unnecessary and even harmful to communicate with people. Therefore, in Uzbekistan there is an absence of any places for exchange of opinions, and especially for interaction between the authorities and society, particularly with the politically conscious part of society.

If the purpose of authorities is to rule the country as long as possible, Islam Karimov has long reached his historical dreams and goals. If the purpose of authorities is to get a positive recognition of the society, and thus remain in the memory of the millions of Uzbeks and in the history of the state of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov is the biggest loser. There is every reason to believe that Islam Karimov will be considered as a dictator in history of Uzbekistan, of Turkic and Muslim nations of the world, as one of the biggest enemies of Islam and Muslims in 20-21 centuries.

The regime’s policy concerning human rights defenders and opposition has several forms – ignoring, isolation, control, strong pressure, and the elimination – staring from deprivation of social and political resources and opportunities, and finishing with physical elimination. We know that Bakhtiyar Khamrayev suffered from severe form of cancer. We also know that, according to estimates of the World Health Organization, approximately 57-65 percent of all illnesses are based on the social conditions. The death of Bakhtiyar Khamrayev is the cumulative result of a comprehensive policy of the authorities of Uzbekistan.

At the same time, Uzbekistan is on the threshold of upgrades and changes in the power. The vast majority of the representatives of civil society dream and wish that Uzbekistan would slowly but surely get in the way of rule of law. The dream of civil society in Uzbekistan is that the new authorities would not follow the same path, which deprives them of legitimacy, destroying the prestige of the government, the support and trust of society. Indeed, in the present times people can be both to the government – dangerous enemy as well as close friend. When the authorities and the people are united, no external forces will be able to put pressure on the authorities. And human rights activists are one of the symbols of the public trust or distrust.

International human rights organization “Fiery Hearts Club”

Paris, France.