IV 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 475 

Expressing disapproval of further payments by the Government of the United 

States to the Government of Uzbekistan relating to facilities at the 

Karshi-Khanabad airbase and urging the United Nations Security Council to refer the situation of Uzbek President Islam Karimov and the 

massacre at Andijan of May 13, 2005, to the International Criminal 

Court. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 29, 2005 

Mr. DELAHUNT (for himself and Mr. DOGGETT) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing disapproval of further payments by the Government of the United States to the Government of 

Uzbekistan relating to facilities at the Karshi-Khanabad 

airbase and urging the United Nations Security Council 

to refer the situation of Uzbek President Islam Karimov 

and the massacre at Andijan of May 13, 2005, to the 

International Criminal Court. 

Whereas the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan 

agreed to United States’ use of the Karshi-Khanabad airbase facility in support of coalition combat and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan; 
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•HRES 475 IH 

Whereas the Department of Defense has stated: ‘‘The 

[Karshi-Khanabad] facility has been instrumental in our 

ability to prosecute the war against the Taliban and alQaida. It has also been instrumental to providing humanitarian relief to those affected regions in northern Afghanistan.’’; 

Whereas the Secretary of Defense has stated that operations 

continue against the Taliban and al-Qaida remnants in 

Afghanistan, and a need still exists for humanitarian 

supplies in the northern part of the country; 

Whereas on July 29, 2005, the Government of Uzbekistan 

evicted the United States from Karshi-Khanabad, giving 

it 180 days to withdraw its forces from the airbase; 

Whereas the Department of Defense has nevertheless indicated its intention to pay the Government of Uzbekistan 

$23 million for the use of the Karshi-Khanabad airbase, 

and additional payments appear likely; 

Whereas in 2002 the Governments of Uzbekistan and the 

United States signed the Declaration on the Strategic 

Partnership and Cooperation Framework Between the 

United States of America and the Republic of Uzbekistan 

in which Uzbekistan pledged to ‘‘implement democratic 

reforms’’ by ‘‘strengthening and developing democratic 

values in the society, ensuring respect for human rights 

and freedoms based on the universally recognized principles and norms of international law’’; 

Whereas the Department of State’s 2004 Country Reports on 

Human Rights Practices states: ‘‘Uzbekistan is an authoritarian state with limited civil rights . . . President 

Islam Karimov and the executive branch that serves him 

dominated political life and exercised nearly complete 
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control over the other branches . . . The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however, the executive 

branch heavily influenced the courts and did not ensure 

due process . . . The Government is highly centralized 

and is ruled by President Karimov and the executive 

branch through sweeping decree powers, primary authority for drafting legislation, and control of government appointments, most of the economy, and the security 

forces.’’; 

Whereas the 2004 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices further states: ‘‘The Government severely restricted 

freedom of speech and the press, and an atmosphere of 

repression stifled public criticism of the Government . . 

. The Government restricted freedom of religion and harassed individuals suspected of belonging to extremist 

groups; several hundred were arrested. The Government 

limited the activities of minority religions.’’; 

Whereas on May 13, 2005, security forces of the Government 

of Uzbekistan conducted a brutal and indiscriminate assault on thousands of demonstrators and onlookers in the 

city of Andijan, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and 

many more injuries; 

Whereas the Government of Uzbekistan has consistently denied that a massacre in Andijan took place, expelled local 

and foreign journalists from the region, and has refused 

to open the area to a full and independent investigation 

into the violence; 

Whereas following the massacre in Andijan, hundreds of 

Uzbek citizens fled to neighboring Kyrgyzstan, which 

faced pressure from the Government of Uzbekistan to 

quickly return them, despite well-grounded concerns that 

they may be arrested and tortured upon their return, and 
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where, although protected as refugees under international 

law, they were targeted by Uzbek authorities for illegal 

repatriation and were continually threatened by Uzbek 

security services operating in southern Kyrgyzstan; 

Whereas, through the government-controlled media, the Government of Uzbekistan has accused the United States of 

provoking the protests in Andijan in May 2005 and has 

engaged in a campaign to discredit the United States in 

Central Asia; 

Whereas the authoritarian state of Uzbekistan, Uzbek President Islam Karimov, and the massacre at Andijan constitute a threat to international peace and security; 

Whereas the actions of the security forces of the Government 

of Uzbekistan during the massacre at Andijan on May 

13, 2005, and thereafter may constitute crimes against 

humanity; 

Whereas President Islam Karimov effectively controls the security forces of Uzbekistan and bears ultimate responsibility for the conduct of such forces in the massacre at 

Andijan; 

Whereas President Islam Karimov’s effective control of the 

Government of Uzbekistan, including the judiciary, prevents the Government of Uzbekistan from conducting 

independent and impartial judicial proceedings and is 

thus unwilling or unable to carry out the investigation or 

prosecution related to the massacre at Andijan; and 

Whereas the United Nations Security Council may refer a situation to the International Criminal Court for investigation and prosecution under Article 13(b) of the Rome 

Statute of the International Criminal Court: Now, therefore, be it 
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1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) disapproves of further payments by the 

3 Government of the United States to the Government 

4 of the Republic of Uzbekistan relating to facilities at 

5 the Karshi-Khanabad airbase; and 

6 (2) urges the President to direct the United 

7 States Permanent Representative to the United Na8 tions to use the voice, vote, and influence of the 

9 United States in the Security Council to refer the 

10 situation of Uzbek President Islam Karimov and the 

11 massacre at Andijan of May 13, 2005, to the Inter12 national Criminal Court. 

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