On 12-13 May 2005, the Uzbek government responded to an armed uprising in Andijan by gunning down hundreds of mostly unarmed civilians. Following the failure of the Uzbek authorities to allow an independent international inquiry into the events in Andijan, the European Council began examining measures that might be put in place against Uzbekistan.
In November 2005 the EU adopted Council Common Position 2005/792/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Uzbekistan. The Common Position, inter alia, established a ban on the sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles, paramilitary equipment and spare parts, to Uzbekistan from or via EU Member States. To ensure uniform implementation of these restrictive measures, the Council also adopted Regulation (EC) No 1859/2005.
The arms embargo on Uzbekistan remained in place until end of October 2009 when the European Council decided not to renew any of the sanctions against Uzbekistan.