Uzbekistan has one of Central Asia’s biggest media markets. TV is the most popular medium and the state broadcaster operates the main national networks. Russian TV is widely watched. Media freedom has declined after some limited improvement following the death in 2016 of former President Islam Karimov. The run-up to the 2021 presidential election saw…

The land that is now Uzbekistan was once at the heart of the ancient Silk Road trade route connecting China with the Middle East and Rome. The country came under Russian control in the 19th century, and emerged as an independent state when Soviet rule ended in 1991. Under authoritarian President Islam Karimov, who ruled…