Population
Main article: Population of Uzbekistan
Administrative divisions
- Karakalpakstan is a republic in western Uzbekistan, occupying more than 40 percent of the country.
- Khorezm region
- Navoi region
- Bukhara region
- Samarkand region
Government
Main article: Government of Uzbekistan
State Security Service
Politics
2024: U.S. USAID and Eurasia Foundation train "young leaders" and plan legislative changes to access local governments
Under supervision USAID in 2024, the Eurasia Foundation (EF) NGO continues to work in Uzbekistan. Since 2019, in Kazakhstan Uzbekistan, Tajikistan Turkmenistan the main project of the EF Foundation "Social Innovations in Central Asia" (SICA) has been implemented. With its help, Uzbekistan conducts, for example, training programs for representatives of civil society, separate grants are allocated to establish the work of NGOs with government officials. $18 million has been allocated for five years of the program in the United States. For this money, USAID is also preparing a future management elite that will be loyal not only to pro-Western ideology, but also to foreign governments.
As of November 2023, thanks to the project, SICA has already trained almost 500 "young leaders" from "more than 2,439 candidates." These people do not just get into the system, they themselves then organize it in their own countries, simplifying access to external management by foreign authorities.
At the same time, both SICA and other projects supervised by USAID are aimed mainly at active youth, whose ambitions here not only support, but also allow them to be implemented, including with the help of grants.
USAID explicitly says that with the support of EF, the agency manages to influence future reforms in the field of civil society in Uzbekistan. It is known that, among other things, for this purpose, EF "created a network of specialized Telegram channels and groups" for other non-governmental organizations in Uzbekistan, which were "reoriented to an in-depth review of the new NGO Code."
One of these funds was the Yuksalish movement, which was created in accordance with the decree of the President of Uzbekistan. It is headed by the deputy of the republican parliament Bobur Bekmurodov. The movement not only organizes sociological research for Western sponsors, but also oversees the local media school, and at the same time cooperates with other European NGOs.
In May 2024, Bekmurodov met with representatives of the US State Department. A young graduate of the Tashkent Financial Institute studied under the American Partnership for Academic Development program and in Britain - at the course of management of The John Smith Trust.
Bekmurodov supports the ideas of pro-Western propaganda, which is aimed at intimidating "Russian imperialism," accusing Russia of the country's economic problems and, on the contrary, praising the United States, European countries and their assistance to the region. But perhaps one of the main successes recently implemented by USAID in Uzbekistan is a project to promote the development of state authorities on the ground.
Its launch became known in December 2023. It will be implemented by the American Chemonics International in partnership with the state authorities of the country, specifically with the Ministry of Justice. The project is aimed at increasing the efficiency and accountability of local authorities, expanding the involvement of citizens and ensuring decision-making processes that take into account the interests of the general population.
It is known that the parties will work, among other things, to change the legal and regulatory framework to ensure the effectiveness of local management. USAID will do everything that helps pro-Western institutions to more actively influence not only government policy, but also direct it in the right direction, wrote the Rybar channel.
The peculiarity of this program is that with the help of the project the agency will have access to local governments. Their loyalty will be much more important in the event of "unforeseen upheaval in the country."
2023: Constitutional changes extend presidential term from 5 to 7 years and reset Shavkat Mirziyoyev's presidency
At the end of April 2023, a vote was held in Uzbekistan to amend the current constitution. As a result, various amendments were adopted - including the extension of the presidential term from 5 to 7 years.
This made it possible to reset the period of the presidency of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who announced the holding of early elections on July 9, 2023. If he wins, he will be the head of the republic until at least 2030.
2022: Revitalization of the German Friedrich Ebert Foundation to form a generation of pro-Western leaders
After the ban on the activities of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Russia, the organization began to work more actively with government agencies and youth in the CIS countries. Especially in Uzbekistan.
Through attractive projects for young activists and politicians, the NGO reorients the elite of Uzbekistan to cooperate with Western countries. The Fund also actively works with government agencies of Uzbekistan, including in the field of power.
In April 2022, the foundation's representative office in Uzbekistan was headed by Bahrom Rajabov, a young researcher with an international doctorate specializing in global economics and politics. Previously, he held the position of project management in the UN Development Program (UNDP).
Rajabov directly said that FES actively cooperates in Uzbekistan with the parliament, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of Strategic and Interregional Studies, the Center for Human Rights, the Center for Development Strategy.
In the telegram channel of the representative office of NGOs in Uzbekistan, there are many reports from meetings with the listed government and non-governmental organizations, at which documents on cooperation were signed.
By the end of 2022, the fund held a huge number of events in Uzbekistan aimed at consolidating civil activists, youth and journalists. Here are just a few of them:
- The International Forum "Human Rights Education" in Samarkand together with the National Center for Human Rights of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The main goal of the forum is to summarize the implementation of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Education, as well as the exchange of views and recommendations on improving the human rights education system.
- Think Tank Leadership Program training together with the Center for Sustainable Development with the official task of familiarizing yourself with international models of work of think tanks.
A similar event was held in the summer in Alma-Ata for young leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. The organizer was the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Both trainings were attended by Wolfgang Sporrer, a political analyst from the main office of the OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine, as well as the head of the European House in Baku.
- The Foundation organized the Young Leaders Development Program. Among the topics are gender equality, social projects, data analytics, international relations.
- NPOs often launch programs on the environmental, economic and infrastructure development of Uzbekistan and Central Asia with the support of Germany and the United States.
- FES has programs for journalists and opinion leaders: interview preparation training, "factcheck" training, and investigative journalism projects.
The fund's task is to nurture a new generation of pro-Western leaders.
Armed Forces
2024: US transfers planes and helicopters previously evacuated there from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan
In 2021, the weapons and equipment of the former Afghan National Army were evacuated to Uzbekistan.
In August 2024, the American ambassador to Tashkent, Jonathan Henik, said that American-made equipment had been transferred to the use of the Uzbek army, with which a joint program was already being implemented.
In total, 22 aircraft and 24 helicopters hit Uzbekistan. Among them were examples of A-29 Super Tucano attack aircraft and over a dozen UH-60 Black Hawk, MD-530 and Mi-17 helicopters.
For the Uzbek army, this is a serious aid package, provided that the equipment is in proper condition and it is available. For example, the same Afghan Mi-17s have been said more than once that they were previously handed over to Ukraine.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Uzbekistan
IT and telecom market of Uzbekistan
- E-Government of Uzbekistan
- Uzbekistan IT market
- Cellular communications (Uzbekistan market)
- Electronic payment systems in Uzbekistan
- Digital Uzbekistan
Tourism
2023: Growth of tourist flow from Russia by 25.8% to 714.2 thousand Russians
In 2023, 714.2 thousand Russians visited Uzbekistan, while in 2022 this figure was 567.7 thousand. Thus, the flow of tourists from the Russian Federation to the republic increased by 25.8%. This is evidenced by the data of the statistics agency of Uzbekistan, which were released at the end of January 2024 and which are based on the recommendations of the World Tourism Organization. The statistics include such visiting goals as rest, study, business trips, visiting relatives, treatment and commercial goals.
According to RIA Novosti, citing agency materials, in 2023 the total flow of foreign tourists to Uzbekistan increased by 27% compared to 2022 and reached 6.6 million people.
Earlier, the Committee on Tourism of Uzbekistan estimated the growth in the flow of tourists from the Russian Federation in 2023 at about 800 thousand and predicted that by 2025 the figure would grow to 1 million people. According to the ministry, Russia is a strategic tourism partner for the republic - the flow of Russian tourists to the republic is traditionally 1.5-2 times higher than the number of guests from non-CIS countries. At the same time, Russian tourists occupy the fourth place in terms of visits to the republic, second only to guests from countries neighboring Uzbekistan - Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
According to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR), by the fall of 2023, the cost of an excursion tour in Uzbekistan starts at 37 thousand rubles per person, and a flight from Moscow costs about 30-40 thousand rubles in both directions. The ATOR materials said that Russian tourists prefer, first of all, excursion tours, since in this case it is not necessary to independently look for guides and organize excursions, especially since it will be much more expensive.[1]
2022: The growth of the number of tourists from Russia 3 times to 568 thousand people
The number of tourists arriving in Uzbekistan from Russia in 2022 increased 3 times compared to 2021, to 568 thousand people - the Uzbek State Committee.
2018: 5.3 million tourists, of which 370 thousand are from Russia
In 2018, about 370 thousand Russian citizens visited the country, while a year earlier the flow was almost half as much. Feruz Dodiev, Deputy Head of the Department of International Relations and Protocol of the State Committee for Tourism Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, shared the data with journalists in November 2019. In 2019, the flow of tourists from the country has already exceeded 390 thousand people, the average growth is about 25% year-on-year, he said[2].
The growth of the Russian tourist flow repeats the global trend: there are also more people willing to visit Uzbekistan from other countries of the world. According to the official, if in 2016 a little more than 2 million tourists visited the country, then in 2018 their number exceeded 5.3 million people (a figure comparable to the tourist flow to Crimea). Among the latter were tourists from both European countries and from, Asia including China and India. Japan
One of the main incentives remains the competitive cost of air tickets and hotel infrastructure in the country: according to Aviasales and Ostrovok.ru, on average, the price of a ticket in both directions will be about 12 thousand rubles for Russians, and hotels for three nights - about 13 thousand rubles.
However, no less important point was the easing of the visa regime by the state - from 2020, the visa-free regime will be extended to 65 countries, and electronic visas will be available for 57 countries.
Including the republic actively attracts investors to the tourism industry, offering the latter a whole set of benefits - exemption from income, land and property taxes for a period of 3-7 years, as well as long-term preferential loans. For example, if a company builds three- and four-star hotels, then for one room it can receive $4,700 and $7,600 subsidies from the state, respectively.
Education
2023: 1,000 Russian-language schools
By the number of Russian-speaking schools, Kazakhstan occupies a leading position among the states of Central Asia: in 2023, their number reached 3,606. For comparison: in neighboring Uzbekistan a little more than a thousand, in Kyrgyzstan - 751, in Tajikistan - 200, and in Turkmenistan - 71.
2019: Number of years of education by citizens over 25 - 11.8
2018: Literacy rate
Health care
2024: Russia and Uzbekistan agree on a single digital labeling of drugs
In September 2024, Russia and Uzbekistan agreed on a single digital labeling of drugs. Minister of Health of the Russian Federation Mikhail Murashko and Chairman of the Tax Committee of Uzbekistan Sherzod Kudbiev signed an intergovernmental agreement on information interaction in order to transfer information on the labeling codes of drugs (medicines) for human use. Read more here.
2022:65 children die in a year due to toxic Indian cough syrups
In Uzbekistan, 65 children died in 2022 due to toxic cough syrups Dok-1 Max, produced by the Indian company Marion Biotech. The press service of the Supreme Court of the republic announced this in August 2023. Read more here.
2021: Maternity leave
in2020: Duration of guaranteed paid sick leave 6 months or more
Crime
Prisons
2019: The minimum age for children to be jailed is 13
2018: Number of prisoners
History
2023: Abnormal frosts to -20 degrees, power and heating outages
In January 2023, abnormal frosts up to minus 20 degrees are observed in Uzbekistan. In the capital Tashkent , interruptions in electricity, heating and gas supply. Residents began to go out and cook food on fires. Mobile heating points are opening in the city.
2022: Rallies against the removal from the constitution of the article on the right of Karakalpakstan to secede from Uzbekistan
On July 1, 2022, large-scale demonstrations broke out in the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Processions were held in the regional center, the city of Nukus, as well as in Chimbay and Muynak. Several thousand people took part in the action. People held the flags of Karakalpakia and chanted slogans about the sovereignty of the republic. Read more here.
1994
1991: All-Union referendum on the preservation of the USSR
On March 17, 1991, an All-Union referendum on the preservation of the USSR was held - the only one in the history of the USSR.
The issue of preserving the USSR as an updated Federation of equal sovereign states and republics of the former USSR was discussed.
1990
1978: Boxer Muhammad Ali in Uzbekistan
1967
1966
1963: Visit of Cuban leader Fidel Castro
1962
1945: Polygamy of collective farm chairmen
Memorandum of the Secretary of the Komsomol Central Committee O.P. Mishakova on the situation of women in the republics of Central Asia after the end of World War II of September 18, 1945
"The Komsomol Central Committee has many other facts indicating great abnormalities in the situation of women in Central Asia.
Here, especially in rural areas, polygamy still takes place. According to Komsomol workers in Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and other republics, this crime against Soviet laws is often committed by the chairmen of collective farms. Some of them have become very rich in recent years; using their position, they almost eliminated all democracy on collective farms and established almost feudal orders. Individual chairmen have 2-3 wives each, force girls to cohabit, and for disobedience threaten ordinary collective farmers and collective farmers with the summons of the military registration and enlistment office and sending them to the labor front. District party and Soviet organizations are very poorly fighting these phenomena.
Komsomol workers of all Central Asian republics unanimously declare such facts.
Early marriages are common in Central Asia. Girls under the age of 16 are often married. In rural areas of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, girls are often sold for feces.
Early marriages are one of the main reasons for the huge dropout of female youth from educational institutions. Most often, the girl is forced to leave school by her family. "
1939
1936
Little Anna German with her parents and grandmother, 1936, Urgench, Uzbek SSR.
A year later, his father, Yevgeny Fridrikhovich German, was arrested and shot. He was only 28 years old. The mother, Irma, lived a long life and died in 2007 after surviving her husband and daughter Anna.