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.

Interview with Dmytro Kuleba. Part 3 — Russia’s talk about respect for sovereignty cannot be taken seriously

The online conference of Ukraine’s then Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba with Central Asian journalists took place on September 7, 2022. Journalist Shokir Sharipov asked what the current Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, would have done to steer events (“Many of us living in Central Asia watch with bitterness what is happening

Interview with Dmytro Kuleba. Part 4 — When you invite Putin over, he always imagines that it all belongs to him

The fourth and final part of the report on the online conference of Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba with Central Asian journalists on September 7, 2022. Questions from Kazakh journalist Karlygash Ezhenova concerned information circulating online that “Putin had instructed the development of a revanchist invasion plan, with Moldova, Georgia, or Kazakhstan named

How Navruz was celebrated in Uzbekistan in the past (many old photos)

In 15 photographs, this is the story of how Navruz was celebrated in Uzbekistan from the 1870s to the early 2000s. About half of these photos are black and white; I colorized them using Photoshop (what is Navruz without color). No other changes were made. Navruz in the late 19th century In the territory corresponding

Mirziyoyev thanks Usmanov for his contribution to the Center of Islamic Civilization

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Tuesday expressed gratitude to Russian billionaire of Uzbek origin Alisher Usmanov for his financial and other support in the creation of the Center of Islamic Civilization in Tashkent. “Special thanks go to domestic and foreign entrepreneurs, figures of culture and sports who provided sponsorship for the construction of such

Blogger Sirojiddin Adilov (Sirojiddin Media) arrested on fraud and bribery charges

The Pastdargom District Court of the Samarkand region has sanctioned the arrest of blogger Sirojiddin Adilov. He is suspected of committing crimes under Articles 168 (fraud) and 211 (giving a bribe) through Article 28 of the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan. The Samarkand Regional Department of Internal Affairs had earlier reported the opening of a criminal

Tashkent launches large-scale renovation: which houses will be demolished is still unknown

On February 28, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan adopted Decree No. 83 “On measures to accelerate the implementation of large investment projects based on the principle of comprehensive development in the city of Tashkent, as well as on the creation of green zones.” The decree introduces changes to the previously

The Iranian Embassy in Tashkent published a statement by the President of Uzbekistan on the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader

The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tashkent released an official statement containing the text of a letter from President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, in which the Uzbek leader expressed deep condolences over the death of Iran’s Supreme Religious Leader. In the letter dated March

The United States imposes sanctions on Uzbek citizen Azizjon Mamashoyev and his associated company Advance Security Solutions

The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury added Uzbek citizen Azizjon Makhmudovich Mamashoyev and his associated company Advance Security Solutions to its sanctions list on February 24, 2026. The update was published on the agency’s official website. Inclusion in the sanctions list According to OFAC, 39-year-old Tashkent resident