Uzbekistan: Preliminary results indicate that voters in Uzbekistan have shown significant support for constitutional amendments, which could permit President Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev to extend his term in office until 2040.

The Uzbekistan elections commission announced that over 90 percent of voters in the Central Asian nation approved the constitutional changes, which would allow President Mr. Mirziyoyev to potentially serve until 2040. Despite concerns raised by human rights organizations regarding the government’s authoritarian behaviour restricting the freedom of expression, voter turnout was approximately 85 in the former Soviet state.

Following the passing of the oppressive leader Mr. Islam Karimov, Mr. Mirziyoyev, aged 65, assumed the presidency in 2016. He has since pledged to enhance social and legal safeguards for his constituents. Mr. Mirziyoyev affirmed that the constitutional revision would enhance the administration and living standards in the landlocked country with a population of 35 million individuals, where civil liberties have historically been severely limited.

However, analysts predict that the new constitution will likely grant the most advantages to Mr. Mirziyoyev, in the predominantly Muslim nation. Despite Tashkent’s Western allies being unlikely to endorse the extension of Mirziyoyev’s term in office, Uzbekistan faces minimal risks as the West is currently seeking support from ex-Soviet nations to isolate Russia over the conflict in Ukraine.

In the meantime, observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) have declared that the referendum was not genuinely inclusive.

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