TASHKENT, July 6. /TASS/. The Uzbek Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the organizers of the riot in Nukus had sought to undermine the country’s constitutional order, territorial integrity and unity.
"An attempt was made in the city of Nukus on July 1-2, 2022 to undermine the constitutional order, territorial integrity and unity of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Under the pretext of protesting against proposals for constitutional amendments that were submitted for general discussion, a group of perpetrators organized violent riots, skirmishes and attempts to seize government buildings by force," the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the riots bore signs of a pre-planned sabotage aimed at inciting separatism and destabilizing the country. There were attempts to capture the parliament building and the office of the national guard. Most rioters were in a state of alcoholic or drug intoxication.
The ministry said news media and rights groups had no grounds to state that the use of force to disperse the rally was illegitimate.
"The Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Uzbekistan calls on all the media and human rights organizations to approach the events in Karakalpakstan impartially, avoiding hasty conclusions and unilateral statements based on various unreliable sources," the statement said.