Index 2023
137/ 180
Score : 45.73
Political indicator
132
45.52
Economic indicator
132
38.40
Legislative indicator
120
52.20
Social indicator
147
43.56
Security indicator
127
48.98
Index 2022
133/ 180
Score : 45.74
Political indicator
129
44.75
Economic indicator
123
35.71
Legislative indicator
136
50.88
Social indicator
138
53.33
Security indicator
129
44.03

Following the 2016 death of President Islam Karimov, circumstances have only barely improved for the media, and criticising state power remains complicated.

Media landscape

Uzbekistan has no private television network. State-owned radio transmits official propaganda, privately owned radio stations abstain from any criticism for fear of being shut down, and the written press serves state interests. Only about 15 online media outlets, some of them based abroad, publish quality content. They include Ozodlik Radiosi, the Uzbek-language service of the American Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, which is blocked in the country. About a third of the press broadcasts in Russian.

Political context

The authorities largely control the media, as well as a number of bloggers with close ties to the government. The real opposition, composed of both an Islamic movement with ties to the Taliban and a partly exiled nationalist group, is banned.

Legal framework

Authorities have yet to implement the reforms needed to end repressive media laws. Surveillance, censorship and self-censorship are prevalent. To preserve their independence, some local online outlets avoid officially registering as media, at the risk of being prosecuted and facing heavy fines for what they publish.

Economic context

Officials don’t hesitate to exert economic pressure or to try to corrupt journalists. The development of independent media is essentially blocked by laws restricting their funding, especially by foreign-based organisations that support a free press.

Sociocultural context

Sixty percent of the population of 30 million is under 30 years old. This strong youthful presence, as well as the expansion of internet coverage, explains why social networks are booming, especially Odnoklassniki, Facebook and Telegram. Some groups on these platforms allow the exchange of information on corruption issues, which the official media barely cover.

Safety

The last imprisoned journalists, some held for nearly 20 years, have been released but not rehabilitated. Bloggers are still being threatened or arrested, as was the case with Otabek Sattory, founder of the Xalq Fikri (People’s Opinion) YouTube channel. He was sentenced to six and a half years in prison in May 2021 in a defamation and extortion case in which he was framed. Reporters who tried to cover his trial were attacked or suffered baseless criminal prosecution. A crackdown on reporters who covered demonstrations in support of Karakalpakistan’s independence underscored the government’s determination to silence all dissent.

Abuses in real time in Uzbekistan

Killed since 1st January 2024
0 journalists
0 media workers
0
Detained as of today
4 journalists
0 media workers
4