CIAO DATE: 08/04

Uzbekistan

Victoria Garcia and Rachel Stohl

Center for Defense Information

July 2003

Background

Uzbekistan is plagued with conflict tied to the neighboring conflicts in Chechnya, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Xinjang. In Uzbekistan, armed opposition groups are seeking to establish an Islamic state. In January 2001, Central Asian states agreed to work together to combat these opposition groups, which are contributing to the region's instability.

Uzbekistan is technically a republic, but the political situation is such that it is effectively under authoritarian presidential rule with little power outside the executive branch. In its 2002 report, the State Department stated that Uzbekistan’s human rights record is very poor, although there were some improvements from past years. Democratic processes are prohibited, security and police forces are responsible for serious abuses, deaths and torture. The judicial system in Uzbekistan is in terrible condition, as citizens are arbitrarily and prolongly detained, and several citizens died in custody due to mistreatment. Illegal searches and wiretaps are common, police corruption and bribery are widespread, and due process is not ensured. Notable improvements, however, include the first–ever registration of an independent domestic human rights organization, and for the first time since independence, nine police and National Security Service officers were convicted for human rights violations.

Nonetheless, impunity is rampant in Uzbekistan; censorship is widely practiced; limits on assembly, association, press, speech and religion are regular; and freedom of movement is restricted. In addition, the State Department reports widespread domsetic violence, and violence against women, discrimination against women and minorities in the workplace, and child labor in rural areas. Trafficking of women and children to other countries for prostitution is also a problem.

U. S. Military Assistance Prior to Sept. 11, 2001

Uzbekistan did not report any arms transfers to the UN Arms Register, and SIPRI did not account for any arms sales in the recent past.

Prior to Sept. 11, Uzbekistan did receive a minimal amount of U.S. military assitance. Between 1990 and 1995, there were no U.S. military transfers to Uzbekistan. Between 1995 and 2001, Uzbekistan was granted a total of $2.7 million in IMET and $7.65 million in FMF. During those same years, Uzbekistan also received $442,316 in DCS licenses, but only received $10,000 in DCS weapons, in addition to $2.4 million in FMS equipment.

U. S. Military Assistance Since Sept. 11, 2001

Since Sept. 11, Uzbekistan has been identified as a key partner for U.S. efforts to stamp out terrorism and its complicated networks throughout Central Aisa. To that end, immediately following Sept. 11, Uzbekistan approved U.S. Central Command’s request for access to a critical military air base located in the southern part of the country. In the FY 01 Emergency Supplemental, Uzbekistan received $25 million in FMF for defense services and equipment, $40.5 million in FSA funding for economic and law enforcement assistance, and $18 million in NADR – which is part of the $45.5 million fund for “specialized training and equipment to prevent and respond to terrorist incidents” – and $42.2 million allocated for military training and equipment for border security forces in Central Asia.

In March 2002, the United States signed a joint five–part declaration with the Central Asian region. The allocation of assistance in FY 02 and FY 03 were subject to a determination by the U.S. Secretary of State that Uzbekistan is making “substantial and continuing progress” in meeting its committments uner this joint declaration. In both August 2002 and May 2003, Secretary of State Colin Powell declared that Uzbekistan is making “substantial and continuing progress.” Consequently, in the FY 02 Supplemental Appropriations Request, Uzbekistan was granted $11 million in FMF and $34.5 million in FSA funding. In the FY 03 Foreign Operations Act, Uzbekistan was allocated $8.75 million in FMF, $1.2 million in IMET, $1.2 million in NADR, and $31.5 million in FSA funding. Furhtermore, for FY 04, Uzbekistan has been promised $10 million in FMF, $1.6 million in IMET and $42 million in FSA.

Case Study Profile

Country	Uzbekistan
Government Type	Republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outide the executive branch
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births–2001 estimate)	71.92
Total Armed Forces (2000 estimate)	59,000
Military Expenditure (U.S.$, millions)	$200 (FY 97)
Military Expenditure % GDP	2% (FY 97)
Imports/Conventional Arms Transfers (U.S. $, millions – 2001 estimate)	$5
Human Rights Record 2002	very poor, serious government abuses

Uzbekistan’s Submission to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms
1993	n/a
1994	n/a
1995	n/a
1996	n/a
1997	n/a
1998	n/a
1999	0
2000	0
2001	0

Fiscal Year	IMET	FMF	FSA	ESF	Total
1990	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
1991	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
1992	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
1993	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
1994	$0	$0	$0	$0	$0
1995	$95,000	$0	$0	$0	$95,000
1996	$293,000	$0	$0	$0	$293,000
1997	$286,000	$1,000,000	$0	$0	$1,286,000
1998	$457,000	$1,550,000	$0	$0	$1,007,000
1999	$526,000	$1,650,000	$0	$0	$2,176,000
2000	$547,000	$1,750,000	$0	$0	$2,297,000
2001	$494,000	$1,700,000	$0	$0	$2,194,000
2002	$880,000	$207,000	$29,190,000	$0	$30,277,000
2002 ERF	$0	$25,000,000	$54,500,000	$0	$79,500,000
2002 SUP	$0	$11,000,000	$34,500,000	$0	$45,500,000
2003 (estimated)	$1,200,000	$8,750,000	$31,500,000	$0	$41,450,000
2004 (request)	$1,600,000	$10,000,000	$42,000,000	$0	$53,600,000
Total	$6,378,000	$6,607,000	$191,690,000	$0	$260,675,000

Sources

CIA Factbook 2001

Human Development Report 2002

“Stockholm International Peace Research Institute Yearbook,” Appendix 5C, Register of the transfer and licensed production of major conventional weapons, 2001.

United Nations Register of Conventional Arms

U.S. Department of State Human Rights Report 2001–Released March 4, 2002