Shavkat Mirziyoyev

Despite thousands reportedly released since 2016, an estimated 2,000 remain jailed in Uzbekistan for political and religious reasons.

As Mirziyoyev gears up for his second term, Uzbekistan’s foreign relations and economy are moving forward, but political and social reforms are lagging.

Presidential meetings in Central Asia are often dismissed for a lack of concrete results and for their exclusively ceremonial character. But there are good reasons to take the latest meeting seriously.

Jahongir Otajonov, picked by the banned Erk party as its presidential candidate, has reportedly quit the race.

Tashkent seems to have delicately removed itself from discussing Dushanbe’s Rogun dam, instead offering alternatives.

Uzbekistan is an observer in the Eurasian Economic Union, but in a recent speech it’s clear Tashkent wants to see the benefits of membership before making the leap.

The Uzbek state plays a huge role in the country’s economy, generating difficulties for foreign investors trying to operate in Uzbekistan.

Otabek Sattoriy, a blogger who often covered local corruption, has been sentenced on charges of extortion and libel.

The last time an Uzbek president faced a serious challenger was in 1991. Erk hasn’t been allowed to front a candidate since.

Instead of progress on decriminalizing defamation, Uzbek authorities have amended the criminal code to include online insults of the president as punishable with prison time. 

In the Kyrgyz president’s first state visit to Uzbekistan earlier this month, border issues topped the agenda.