Yearbook 2019
Uzbekistan. In January, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev
decided that the state university should teach political
science again. The subject was banned under former President
Islam Karimov, who saw it as a pseudoscience foreign to
Uzbekistan.
According to
CountryAAH, Mirziyoyev's reforms have lifted some of the
representative's most whimsical prohibitions, such as those
against playing billiards, painting faces at football
matches or buying foreign currency.
In February, the head of the security service resigned,
who was investigated for bribery and abuse of power.
Reportedly, it would be because his agents had been
monitoring the presidential family.
Swedish Telia executives accused of bribing President
Karimov's daughter were acquitted in Stockholm District
Court in February. Telia had paid billions to her for
licenses in Uzbekistan, but the prosecutor could not prove
that it was a bribe. In March, Gulnara Karimova himself was
indicted by the United States for bribery and money
laundering in a deal with the largest Russian mobile
operator MTS. The company that was listed in the US had
violated US law. Karimova and her company are suspected of
having spent over $ 865 million on licenses.
Later, Uzbek prosecutors opened an investigation against
Karimova on illegal privatization. She would have illegally
bought government companies and sold them to foreigners. She
was also accused of forcing several companies with the
threat of violence.
In March, the United States lifted its ban on imports of
cotton from Uzbekistan, explaining that the use of child
labor has decreased significantly in the cotton harvest.
The country's state prosecutor Otabek Murodov was
dismissed in June after suspicions of corruption. According
to reports, Murodov figured in an investigation that also
applied to the departed head of the security service.
At the same time, one of Murodov's representatives was
sentenced to ten years in prison for bribery, extortion,
fraud, tax fraud, obstruction of justice and money
laundering. Twelve co-accused were also sentenced to 19
years in prison.
In August, the president ordered the closure of the
infamous Jasly Prison, which was associated with cruel
torture and other abuses, and given desert names such as the
Torture's House or the Place Without Return. Among other
things, the UN had long demanded that the prison be closed.
According to human rights organizations, thousands of people
are still in Uzbek prisons on political grounds.
In September, Parliament adopted new rules for weddings
in the country. A maximum of 250 guests, two bands and three
classy cars in the car are allowed. In the capital city of
Tashkent, where an employee may earn about SEK 2,500 a
month, a bride and groom's families can spend about SEK
200,000 on a wedding. The money is often borrowed and
creates long-term financial problems, which according to
some politicians threaten the country's economy. According
to the president, weddings often result in people dying from
stroke or heart attack when they are unable to pay their
debts.
A court sentenced blogger Nafosat Ollashukurova in the
fall to forced treatment at a psychiatric clinic. On
Facebook with thousands of followers, she had reported
corruption and illegal demolition of housing.
During the year, Uzbekistan planned for a series of solar
power plants. The goal is solar energy of a total of 5 GW by
the year 2030, corresponding to five nuclear reactors. The
government also decided to subsidize private individuals
with 30% of the costs of installing solar energy for
electricity and hot water.
In the December parliamentary elections, the five
registered regime-loyal parties participated, and the
largest became the Liberal Democratic Party. Opposition
parties are prohibited.
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