Uzbekistan politics

Letters obtained by The Diplomat suggest a failed effort to manipulate the U.S. sanctions system on the part of a well-connected Uzbek businessman.

Arrests, an extradition from South Korea, and a waterfall of security official resignations: One month since the Allamajonov assassination attempt.

O’zLiDeP, already the dominant force in the country’s parliament, saw its vote share increase in an election observers said lacked real competition.

Allamjonov stepped down last month from his post in Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration. A suspect has been arrested but authorities have not commented on a motive.

From tackling corruption to enhancing public services, people of Uzbekistan are clear about their priorities.

Without genuine political freedom and fully open discourse, attempts at political reform in Uzbekistan may struggle to gain traction.

Thousands were imprisoned under the regime of Islam Karimov, unjustly convicted on religious extremism and other charges. Many have been freed, but they remain unexonerated. 

With 87 percent of the votes in a campaign devoid of genuine competition, the Uzbek president has cemented himself in power much like his predecessor.

There have been some areas of progress on human rights under Mirziyoyev but the country’s international partners should recognize that these gains have now halted and gone into reverse.

Since 2016, Mirziyoyev’s reforms have often served two purposes: a populist aim paired with an overriding interest in regime security.

In the wake of the constitutional referendum extending the presidential term from five to seven years, Mirziyoyev called for a new presidential election.

With Karimovesque numbers and a lack of open debate or opposition, Mirziyoyev's constitution was approved in Uzbekistan.

Uzbek President Mirziyoyev recently dismissed Jahongir Artikhodjaev, the controversial mayor of Tashkent. 

Human Rights Watch says Uzbek security forces “unjustifiably” used lethal force to disperse generally peaceful demonstrators this summer.

The Uzbek president scolded regional leaders for failing to address the problems of the people and laid out further investments to address economic problems.

The apparent dismissal of Rustam Inoyatov, who lost his long-held post as head of the Uzbek security services back in 2018, moves a former kingmaker off the board.

The OSCE election monitoring mission says reforms under Mirziyoyev "have not yet resulted in a genuinely pluralistic environment."

Uzbekistan's election is set for October 24.

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

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

The Truth and Progress party, after being rejected in April, re-applied but was again rejected by the Ministry of Justice.

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

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

"Despite obvious advancement in reforms in various spheres, one direction of reforms remains very slow: it is the sphere of political reforms."