Category Archives: News and analysis

The trial of blogger Aziz Hakimov begins in Tashkent; defense alleges document forgery

Preliminary hearings in the criminal case against blogger Aziz Hakimov, known online under the pseudonym “Comrade Aziz,” were held in Tashkent on Monday. The defense accused law enforcement agencies of falsifying documents, while a group of the blogger’s supporters obstructed the work of an independent journalist outside the courthouse. Procedural “forgery” Lawyer Sergey Mayorov said

Vehicle registration certificates in Uzbekistan set to 5-year validity

The official channel of the Road Safety Service under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan reported the introduction of a validity period for vehicle registration certificates, clarifying how the new rule will be applied amid differing interpretations circulating on social media. According to the agency, earlier information about a supposed “restriction of the vehicle

Digital breakthrough: How the new personal data reform opens Uzbekistan’s market to Apple and Google Pay

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law that fundamentally changes the rules of the game in Uzbekistan’s digital sector (the full text of the signed law in Uzbek is attached below). The new version of Article 27¹ of the Law “On Personal Data” eliminates legal conflicts that for years blocked the entry of the world’s

Putin–Mirziyoyev call marks shift to active phase of nuclear plant construction in Uzbekistan

The presidents of Russia and Uzbekistan on Tuesday formally launched the main stage of construction of Central Asia’s first nuclear power plant, cementing Moscow’s role as a key energy partner in the region amid the Kremlin’s ongoing isolation in the West. During a phone call, Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted the start of concrete

Interview with Dmytro Kuleba. Part 1 — opening statement by the minister

On September 7, 2022, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba held a press conference for 10 Central Asian journalists, including myself. This is the statement he made before answering journalists’ questions. I am printing the transcript of his speech as it is, without cuts. Dmytro Ivanovych Kuleba: Many citizens of your countries know Ukrainians, have visited

Interview with Dmytro Kuleba. Part 2 — “Casting aside fear of Russia” as a defense of national interest

The online conference of Ukraine’s then Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba with Central Asian journalists took place on September 7, 2022. Kyrgyz journalist Adil Turdukulov asked Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba about the indifferent attitude (“our authorities pretend it does not concern them”) of Central Asian leaders toward the war in Ukraine and its consequences.

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

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