Country Profile

Since coming to power in 2016, President Mirziyoyev has taken steps to liberalise the Uzbek economy and denounce corruption. Among other measures, a new Anti-Corruption Agency was established in 2020 and, under his administration, criminal charges have been filed against numerous public officials for embezzlement, bribes or abuse of power.

However, Uzbekistan remains an authoritarian state characterised by high levels of corruption, nepotism and abuse of power, including at the highest levels of government and in such sectors as healthcare and education. In recent years, political opponents, civil society figures and journalists have faced lawsuits, prosecution and even torture for reporting on corruption offences involving the president’s inner circle and close allies.