Author Archives: Marina Kozlova

About Marina Kozlova

Founder and Editor of Yep.uz. 30 years in international journalism (AP, UPI, Interfax, World Politics Review). Born in Tashkent, she lived in Europe for five years and has traveled extensively across Central Asia and the world. Translator, educator, and founder of the "Suhbat" Tashkent Book Club. Amateur chef and connoisseur of home cooking from many countries.

Which medicines are included in Uzbekistan’s reimbursement program: an analysis of the official list

The Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan has approved a list of diseases and medicines included in the reimbursement program. The document defines which drugs patients will be able to receive under reimbursement when treating socially significant diseases. The document, signed by Minister Asilbek Khudayarov on April 23, 2026, was agreed with the State Health Insurance… Read More »

Uzbekistan ranked 147th in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, showing minimal change

Uzbekistan ranked 147th out of 180 countries in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders, rising by one position compared to 2025. The state of press freedom in the country is described as “very serious.” The country’s overall score slightly declined — to 34.95 compared to 35.24 a year earlier, indicating… Read More »

Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic sign agreements, target $1 billion in trade

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš on Thursday held talks with Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Tashkent as part of a Central Asia tour, amid Prague’s efforts to expand economic ties beyond the European Union. The sides announced plans to increase bilateral trade to $1 billion and signed a package of agreements covering industry, science, technology,… Read More »

Uzbekistan expands hydropower to reduce dependence on gas and coal

Uzbekistan is accelerating the development of hydropower in an effort to reduce dependence on natural gas and coal. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Wednesday reviewed a comprehensive sector development plan that envisages large-scale construction of new capacity and expansion of hydropower infrastructure. A key structural shift in the energy mix remains limited: hydropower currently accounts for… Read More »

Central Bank of Uzbekistan strengthens accounting of foreign exchange operations and updates rules for their execution

The Board of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan has adopted a resolution introducing amendments to the rules governing foreign exchange operations. The document is dated March 30, 2026, and was registered with the Ministry of Justice on April 22 under number 3281-5 (attached below in Uzbek). The resolution enters into force on the date of… Read More »

EU imposes sanctions on two Uzbek companies and activates mechanism against Kyrgyzstan for the first time

The European Union has adopted its 20th package of sanctions against Russia, extending restrictions not only to Russian companies but also to organizations in third countries, including Uzbekistan, and for the first time activating a special anti-circumvention mechanism against Kyrgyzstan. The European Commission announced this on April 23, 2026. EU sanctions two companies from Uzbekistan… Read More »

Investigation into Taftish.uz case transferred to military prosecutor’s office — human rights activist reports 400 complaints and possiible closed trial

Human rights activist Abdurakhmon Tashanov reported that the investigation into the Taftish.uz case is being conducted by military investigators, and the case materials have been transferred to the Military Prosecutor’s Office. According to him, the case involves a large number of complaints from citizens and is partially being handled in a closed procedure. He noted… Read More »

Ecology as the new geopolitics: conclusions from the Astana summit

The regional ecological summit in Astana, which began on April 22, became a platform for developing a unified survival strategy for Central Asia amid the climate crisis. The speeches of the presidents of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, the region’s largest economies, signaled a shift from declarations to the formation of concrete regional institutions. Value framework and… Read More »

The 1966 Tashkent earthquake (+ personal memories and many photos)

The 1966 Tashkent earthquake occurred 60 years ago, on April 26, 1966, at 5:23 a.m. The epicenter of the Tashkent earthquake was located at the site of an ancient fortress in the center of Tashkent. Strong ground oscillations with a frequency of 2–3 Hz lasted 10–12 seconds. How strong was the 1966 Tashkent earthquake The… Read More »

Interpol issues notice for former head of Uzmetkombinat Dilshod Akhmedov

A wanted notice for Uzbek citizen Dilshod Akhmedov, who previously headed the Uzbek Metallurgical Plant, has been published on the Interpol website. The notice states that he is accused under Article 167, Part 3 of Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code — “Larceny by Embezzlement.” Interpol issues notice for Dilshod Akhmedov According to the published data, the person… Read More »