Shavkat Mirziyoyev

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.

Tashkent’s continued authoritarian habits undermine positive steps.

In an investigation released this week, RFE/RL poked into the Uzbek president’s alleged secret resort in the mountains.

Tashkent has promoted privatization schemes before. Is this time different?

Genuine reform takes place not through quashing free thinkers and critics but in encouraging and even embracing them. 

Uzbekistan has a real opportunity to cement its significant gains, turn away from its authoritarian past, and reclaim its place as a Central Asian leader. 

Tashkent’s quick move to partner with China on poverty reduction indicates that Beijing is now the model for such efforts.

What does the coronavirus response say about the government’s ability to deliver on its ambitious reform program? 

Can the Uzbek government ensure that those who participated in Gulnara Karimova’s corruption do not benefit from it once more?