Karakalpak Activist Muratbai, Now Safe Abroad, Reveals His Next Steps

Aqylbek Muratbai has since left the country and received protection in a Western state. In a post on X, he said he is now safe and thanked those who supported him, Orda.kz reports.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone who worried about me and offered their support, wrote the Karakalpak activist.

He noted that two international organizations assisted in his departure but declined to name them. Muratbai said he does not plan to step away from public life and now has the opportunity to build direct connections with policymakers involved in Uzbekistan’s foreign policy, investment, and regional trade.

Despite being abroad, he says he intends to remain closely engaged with Karakalpakstan through civic work and personal contacts.

There have been no positive changes yet — on the contrary, the situation continues to deteriorate, while attention to human rights in Karakalpakstan and nearby regions has sharply weakened, he wrote.

Muratbai was detained in Almaty in February 2024 at Uzbekistan’s request, where he is accused of inciting mass unrest and violence. Human rights groups warned that extradition would expose him to torture or imprisonment. 

Muratbai was later released.

Kazakhstan’s Supreme Court ultimately rejected his asylum request. Days earlier, Muratbai warned that if his deportation went ahead, his only options were “prison or escape.”

In the end, he chose a third option — leaving for safety.

Original Author: Ruslan Loginov