Category Archives: News and analysis

Renovation, Uzbek-style: what the law promises property owners and what it leaves unsaid

Uzbekistan has adopted the law “On Urban Development Renovation,” which is intended to define the procedure for renewing the old housing stock. Authorities say the program will allow the replacement of dilapidated and outdated buildings with modern housing, improve infrastructure, and raise the quality of the urban environment. However, for thousands of property owners the

Uzbekistan Airways cuts flights to Russia due to fuel shortage

Uzbekistan’s national carrier, Uzbekistan Airways, has announced a reduction in flight frequencies on several routes to Russia, citing a shortage of aviation fuel and rising fuel costs. The airline announced the upcoming changes on June 12. According to its statement, the reductions will affect certain routes between cities in Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. However,

Housing renovation law in Uzbekistan: up to 17,000 pre-1991 buildings may be replaced with new housing

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of proposals aimed at improving urbanization and upgrading urban development policy. Among the initiatives, particular attention was given to the country’s first law on urban renovation. According to the presentation materials, authorities are considering the renewal of outdated housing stock. It was noted that instead of 17,000 buildings constructed

Rights activist arrested in Kashkadarya region: Ezgulik head claims case was fabricated

Abdurakhmon Tashanov, chairman of the human rights society Ezgulik, has alleged persecution of the organization’s activist Javokhir Muminov, who was arrested in the Kashkadarya region on charges of extortion. Tashanov reported this on his Telegram channel on June 8. According to Tashanov, the criminal case is linked to Muminov’s work defending Jura Akbarov, a resident

Mirziyoyev in St. Petersburg: a nuclear project, trade and a display of alliance amid war

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in St. Petersburg on June 4 to participate in the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) and hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. His visit comes at a time when the forum no longer attracts the number of world leaders it did before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, while

Number of universities in Uzbekistan declines for the first time in years, but student enrollment continues to grow

For the first time in recent years, the number of higher education institutions in Uzbekistan has declined. At the beginning of the 2025/2026 academic year, 215 institutions were operating in the country — seven fewer than a year earlier. At the same time, the higher education system continued to grow in terms of student enrollment,

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan sign roadmap for trade and economic cooperation

A ceremony to sign a roadmap for trade and economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan took place in Astana on May 29 in the presence of President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. According to statements released by the press services of the two countries, the document outlines practical steps for

Mirziyoyev and Putin press services presented the presidents’ phone call differently

The press services of Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin released statements about the presidents’ phone conversation on May 22, but their presentation differed noticeably. The Uzbek side provided a detailed description of economic and interregional cooperation, while the Kremlin limited itself to a brief official statement without specific details. The difference in the coverage of

China takes first place: Over 19,000 foreign-capital enterprises now operating in Uzbekistan

The number of foreign-invested enterprises in Uzbekistan continues to grow. According to the National Statistics Committee, as of May 1, 2026, there were 19,490 enterprises with foreign capital operating in the country — 1.4 times more than five years ago. At the same time, the structure of foreign business has changed significantly. Over the past