Citizenship and residence permits for participation in the war: what Putin’s new decree establishes

Decree of the President of the Russian Federation No. 821 of November 5, 2025

Decree No. 821 of November 5, 2025, signed by the President of Russia, introduces a temporary procedure for obtaining Russian citizenship and residence permits for foreign nationals and stateless persons, directly linking these migration benefits to participation in the so-called “special military operation” that began on February 24, 2022. The document was published on the… Read More »

In Uzbekistan, about 70 websites promoting betting services have been blocked

In Uzbekistan, control over restricting advertising of gambling and other risk-based games has been strengthened. According to the Competition Committee, constant monitoring is being conducted of web resources that promote gambling and betting services. The Committee has established cooperation with relevant agencies to ensure a prompt response to violations in the advertising sphere. As part… Read More »

A channel with Siberian water would not save the Aral Sea: experts’ opinions

One of the schemes for diverting Siberian rivers to Central Asia

Although the construction of a channel to divert part of the flow of Siberian rivers to Central Asia was canceled by a decision of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU more than 35 years ago, discussions about the channel continue today. This grandiose project still concerns irrigators, scientists, and politicians, so I… Read More »

Lesson 22. Uzbek personal pronouns and predicate affixes, a dialogue when meeting at a hotel restaurant

A dialogue in a hotel in Uzbek — how to ask whether seats are available

Uzbek personal pronouns and predicate affixes. Uzbek sentences without verbs — affirmative, negative, questions and answers in the present tense. We continue working on Uzbek grammar. The lesson also includes meeting someone in a hotel restaurant, learning to ask whether seats are available and to carry on a short polite conversation. A dialogue when meeting… Read More »

New Year in Tashkent and Uzbekistan in the past: what it looked like

The New Year tree at the Palace of Pioneers (formerly the palace of Grand Duke N.K. Romanov) in the 1940s. Photo by Max Penson

In the USSR, which included Uzbekistan and, of course, its capital Tashkent, New Year was celebrated for the first time in 1935, making the old attributes of Christmas — Ded Moroz, the tree, and gifts under the tree — secular. In January 1937, Ded Moroz received a companion — Snegurochka. In Soviet times, New Year… Read More »

Uzbekistan transfers electricity supply to private companies

Meeting of Shavkat Mirziyoyev with the Turkish delegation led by Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar in Tashkent on December 5, 2025

Uzbekistan is transferring electricity supply to private companies. The Samarkand Regional Electric Networks will be taken over by the Turkish company Aksa Elektrik. Electric networks in four more regions will also be transferred to private management. At the forum “Powering the Future – Sustainable Energy for New Uzbekistan,” held in Tashkent on December 5, the… Read More »

Termez–Hairaton: civilian movement restored

Border checkpoints on the Termez–Hairaton bridge, which connects Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, have resumed operations. Passengers can now travel directly and safely between the two countries, while the visa requirement remains in place. The information was reported by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan. Information from the Chamber It is known that in 2021… Read More »

Tashkent in winter: archival photographs from different years and personal memories

Tashkent in winter today is nothing like it was 20–30 years ago or earlier. Winter weather now is closer to autumn or spring. From my childhood — before school and during my school years in the 1960s–1970s — I remember above all cold winters with deep snow that stayed on the ground for a long… Read More »

Sanjar Karimov (Real Sanjik): Analysis of companies and wealth

Sanjar Karimov, also known as Real Sanjik, has been taken into custody. He is accused under two criminal articles, and internet users link his arrest to the seizure of a house from a Tashkent resident. Karimov is often referred to as a car blogger, while only the inactive company Finans Invest has been mentioned in… Read More »

In Uzbekistan, judges will receive lifetime appointments for the first time after a five-year term

Building of the Supreme Court of Uzbekistan

In Uzbekistan, judges will receive lifetime appointments for the first time — after a five-year probationary term. The new presidential decree of Shavkat Mirziyoyev DP-227 dated 24 November 2025 changes the very architecture of judicial power: the practice of appointing judges for consecutive terms is abolished, and the principle of irremovability of judges is introduced,… Read More »