Uzbekistan presidential election

The state seems to aim for branding Uzbekistan as dynamic. Its approach to free speech is anything but.

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.

Five parties have nominated four candidates, but only one has any chance at 'winning' Uzbekistan's July 9 snap presidential election.

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

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.

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.

Khidirnazar Allaqulov’s first attempt to register his Haqiqat va Taraqqiyot (Truth and Development) Social Democratic Party has been refused by state authorities amid a pressure campaign.

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

Recent events further dim already bleak hopes for a free and fair presidential election in Uzbekistan later this year.