News about Uzbekistan: events, facts and developments on tafs uz.
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President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed projects for the construction of the city of Yangi Karshi covering 5,200 hectares and a tourist complex along the Karshi Main Canal. The new city is conceived as an expansion of Karshi with a long-term capacity of up to 1 million residents, and the regional khokimiyat will be relocated there.
Javlon TursunovKahramonjon Olimov, through the French law firm FEDIDA ASSOCIES, stated that on June 24, 2025 he was kidnapped in Paris, held for two days and forced to pay a ransom. He rejected kidnapping charges in Uzbekistan and said the Interpol red notice had been removed from the organization's website. There is no independent confirmation of a number of his claims.
Javlon TursunovThe Central Bank of Uzbekistan set the exchange rates for October 23: the dollar fell by 62.36 soums to 11,903.15, the euro dropped by 108.12 soums to 13,329.15, and the ruble rose by 0.79 soums to 146.75. The dollar's decline continues for the fourth day in a row.
Sevara AzamovaAccording to Uztelecom, about 90% of the network modernization program has been completed: 1,931 facilities were upgraded over the year, more than 280 new base stations were launched, and broadband network capacity was expanded by more than 763,000 subscriber ports. Since the beginning of 2026, 4G traffic has grown by 32%, and 5G traffic has doubled. The program is part of two major initiatives for 2022–2026 and 2025–2030 and is linked to the
Sevara AzamovaAt the World Summit 'Investments in Children's Wellbeing' in Samarkand, Minister of Education and Science Erkinjon Turdimov stated that new laws are not as important as order and the implementation of existing opportunities. He supported the development of private education provided there is oversight, emphasized parents' responsibility, and declined to name the personnel planned for replacement.
Javlon TursunovOn 20 October 2026, the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan marked 83 years since its establishment. For this date, Kun.uz, together with the board's press service, gathered information about the history of the institution, founded on 20 October 1943 at a kurultai in Tashkent. Eshon Bobokhon ibn Abdulmajidkhan was unanimously elected the first mufti.
Javlon TursunovFirst Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection Shahnoza Mirziyoyeva stated that children should not be viewed only as the future — for parents they are, above all, the most important part of today. She called for international cooperation in protecting children and for building a culture of intolerance toward violence.
Javlon TursunovThe Lokals Marketing agency published a study on marketing in Uzbekistan: based on 54 in-depth interviews and the tax reports of 157,000 companies, the authors concluded that marketing depends on company size, not industry. They developed the 7 Qadam model — a ladder of seven steps with tasks, budgets and typical mistakes for each revenue level.
Sevara AzamovaUzbekistan's Migration Agency reported that in the first nine months of 2026, $850 thousand in unpaid wages and compensation was recovered from foreign employers following appeals from 817 citizens. Most appeals concerned work in Russia. In addition, identity documents withheld by intermediaries and employers were returned to 532 citizens.
Sevara AzamovaIn an article for Gazeta, expert Bekhzodkhon Alikhanov (Harvard University) analyzes Uzbekistan's chances of attracting large AI data centers. Power shortages and local resistance in the US are pushing investors toward new regions. Uzbekistan has incentives (Presidential Decree UP-189, TMFC, Enterprise Uzbekistan), but lacks ready-made sites, while its neighbors — Armenia and Kazakhstan — have already signed multi-billion-dollar deals.
Javlon TursunovUzbekistan reported that at the Asian Para Games in Japan, runner Fakhriddin Khamroyev was initially disqualified following a protest by a Jordanian athlete, but after an appeal and a review of video recordings, his result was recognized as valid and the gold was returned.
Javlon TursunovChairperson of the Society of Appraisers of Uzbekistan Zebuniso Esonova and expert Shukhrat Abduvokhobov, in an interview with Kun.uz, expressed concerns that mass real estate appraisal results, used to determine compensation when property is expropriated for public needs, may understate the real market value and harm owners.
Javlon TursunovAt a meeting on the socio-economic development of Kashkadarya region on October 22, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said the first phase of the Gelon ski resort, being created with investors from Tatarstan, should open in 2027. Since the beginning of 2026, the region has been visited by 2.5 million tourists, 500,000 of them in Gelon. Agencies have been tasked with preparing a master plan for the development of six villages within a month and starting projects worth $50 million from March 1, 2027.
Sevara AzamovaAs of September 1, 2026, one-month military service in Uzbekistan is paid at seven times the minimum wage — 9 million 520 thousand soums, with the option of installment payment over 12 months. For families in the Social Register, the service is free of charge.
Sevara AzamovaThe President of Uzbekistan held a meeting on the socio-economic development of Kashkadarya region. Discussed were water supply projects for hundreds of thousands of residents, reconstruction of the A-380 highway for $350 million with support from the Asian Development Bank, construction of overpasses, and extension of the Karshi bypass road.
Javlon TursunovThe Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan reported that Google Pay is already operating in the country, while the Apple Pay launch is expected in the coming days. Technical integration is being carried out by the Central Bank, commercial banks and the Humo and Uzcard payment systems. The goal is to simplify payments for foreign tourists. Integration with China's Alipay+ is also underway, and a link between UZQR and India's UPI is being discussed.
Sevara AzamovaA court in Qo‘rg‘ontepa sentenced former deputy khokims of Bostan district to imprisonment: U.S. received 6 years, Sh.D. — 5 years 6 months for taking bribes from farmers under the pretext of fulfilling an export plan. Appeals and supervision instances left the verdict unchanged.
Sevara AzamovaA ceremony marking the opening of the Honorary Consulate of Croatia took place in Tashkent. The initiative belongs to the President of Croatia, Zoran Milanovic. The event was attended by the Croatian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Refik Sabanovic and Honorary Consul Sarvar Ismailov. The consulate will facilitate business contacts, investments, tourism and culture, and also provide consular assistance to Croatian citizens.
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