Editing Uzbekistan (section)

== Politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Uzbekistan}}
[[File:Oliy Majlis (Parliament of Uzbekistan).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan]] (Lower House)]]
[[File:Islam karimov cropped.jpg|thumb|[[Islam Karimov]], the first President of Uzbekistan, during a visit to the Pentagon in 2002]]{{More sources|section|date=April 2025}}{{multiple image
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| image1 = Shavkat Mirziyoyev official portrait (cropped 2).jpg
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| caption1 = [[Shavkat Mirziyoyev]]<br /><small>2nd [[President of Uzbekistan|President]]</small>
| image2 = Abdulla Aripov.png
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| caption2 = [[Abdulla Aripov]]<br /><small>4th [[Prime Minister of Uzbekistan|Prime Minister]]</small>
| footer = since 14 December 2016
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| alt1 = Portrait of Shavkat Mirziyoyev
| alt2 = Portrait of Abdulla Aripov
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After Uzbekistan declared independence from the [[Soviet Union]] in 1991, an election was held, and [[Islam Karimov]] was elected as the [[List of Presidents of Uzbekistan|first President]] of Uzbekistan on 29 December 1991. The elections of the [[Oliy Majlis]] (Parliament or Supreme Assembly) were held under a resolution adopted by the 16th Supreme Soviet in 1994. In that year, the Supreme Soviet was replaced by the Oliy Majlis. The third elections for the bicameral 150-member Oliy Majlis, the Legislative Chamber, and the 100-member Senate for five-year terms, were held on 27 December 2009. The second elections were held from December 2004 to January 2005. The Oliy Majlis was unicameral up to 2004. Its size increased from 69 deputies (members) in 1994 to 120 in 2004–05 and currently stands at 150.

[[Islam Karimov]]’s first presidential term was extended to 2000 through a referendum. He was subsequently re-elected in 2000, 2007, and 2015, each time winning over 90% of the vote. However, most international observers refused to participate in the electoral process and dismissed the results as failing to meet democratic standards.

A 2002 referendum introduced a [[Bicameralism|bicameral parliament]], consisting of a lower house (the [[Oliy Majlis]]) and an upper house (the [[Senate of Uzbekistan|Senate]]), with members of the lower house serving as full-time legislators. Elections for the new parliament were held on 26 December 2002.

Following Karimov’s death on 2 September 2016, the Oliy Majlis appointed Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev as interim president.<ref>{{cite news |title=Uzbekistan PM Mirziyoyev named interim president |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37310718 |work=BBC News |date=8 September 2016 |access-date=20 December 2021 |archive-date=9 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509070128/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-37310718 |url-status=live }}</ref> While the constitution designated Senate Chairman [[Nigmatilla Yuldashev]] as the rightful successor, he declined the position, citing Mirziyoyev’s extensive experience. In the December 2016 presidential election, Mirziyoyev was officially elected with 88.6% of the vote and was sworn in on 14 December.<ref>{{cite news |title=Uzbekistan: President Mirziyoyev takes oath of office |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/uzbekistan-president-mirziyoyev-takes-oath-of-office/706180 |work=Anadolu Agency |first1=Bahtiyar |last1=Abdukerimov |first2=Diyar |last2=Güldoğan |date=14 December 2016 |access-date=20 December 2021 |archive-date=20 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211220121555/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/uzbekistan-president-mirziyoyev-takes-oath-of-office/706180 |url-status=live }}</ref> Deputy Prime Minister [[Abdulla Aripov]] then succeeded him as prime minister.<ref>{{cite news |title=Longtime Official Dismissed By Karimov Chosen As Uzbek Prime Minister |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-prime-minister-nominated/28171532.html |work=RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty |date=12 December 2016 |language=en |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917064418/https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-prime-minister-nominated/28171532.html |archive-date= 17 September 2023 }}</ref>

As president, Mirziyoyev replaced most of Karimov’s officials and called for the inclusion of younger, patriotic individuals in government. Over time, he distanced himself from Karimov’s policies, visiting various regions and cities to oversee reforms. [[Color commentator|Analysts]] and [[Western media]] have compared his leadership style to that of [[Deng Xiaoping]] and [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], describing his tenure as a potential "Uzbek Spring."<ref>{{Cite news|date=31 March 2018|title=Spring in Tashkent: Is Uzbekistan really opening up?|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43582371|access-date=5 January 2021|archive-date=9 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043704/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43582371|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Can We Call It An Uzbek Spring Yet?|url=https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/can-we-call-it-an-uzbek-spring-yet/|access-date=5 January 2021|website=The Diplomat |archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417215214/https://thediplomat.com/2018/12/can-we-call-it-an-uzbek-spring-yet/|url-status=live}}</ref>{{r|Lillis2017}}

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Uzbekistan|International organization membership of Uzbekistan}}
Uzbekistan joined the [[Commonwealth of Independent States]] in December 1991. However, it is opposed to reintegration and withdrew from the CIS collective security arrangement in 1999. Since that time, Uzbekistan has participated in the CIS peacekeeping force in Tajikistan and in UN-organised groups to help resolve the Tajikistan and Afghanistan conflicts, both of which it sees as posing threats to its own stability.

Previously close to Washington (which gave Uzbekistan half a billion dollars in aid in 2004, about a quarter of its military budget), the government of Uzbekistan has recently restricted American military use of the airbase at [[Karshi-Khanabad]] for air operations in neighbouring Afghanistan.<ref>Marquardt, Erich and Wolfe, Adam (17 October 2005) [http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/153/26246.html Rice Attempts to Secure US Influence in Central Asia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503094751/http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/153/26246.html |date=3 May 2012 }}, Global Policy Forum.</ref> Uzbekistan was an active supporter of U.S. efforts against worldwide terrorism.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hill|first=Fiona|date=13 December 2001|title=Contributions of Central Asian Nations to the Campaign Against Terrorism|url=https://www.brookings.edu/testimonies/contributions-of-central-asian-nations-to-the-campaign-against-terrorism/|access-date=7 July 2021|website=Brookings|language=en-US|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709190519/https://www.brookings.edu/testimonies/contributions-of-central-asian-nations-to-the-campaign-against-terrorism/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The relationship between Uzbekistan and the United States began to deteriorate after the so-called "[[colour revolutions]]" in [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and Ukraine (and to a lesser extent [[Kyrgyzstan]]). When the U.S. joined in a call for an independent international investigation of the bloody events at [[Andijan massacre|Andijan]], the relationship further declined, and President Islam Karimov changed the political alignment of the country to bring it closer to Russia and China.

[[File:Secretary Kerry Meets With President Karimov at the President's Residential Compound in Samarkand (22052330394).jpg|thumb|left|President [[Islam Karimov]] with U.S. Secretary of State [[John Kerry]] in Samarkand in November 2015]]
In late July 2005, the government of Uzbekistan ordered the United States to vacate an airbase in Karshi-Kanabad (near Uzbekistan's border with Afghanistan) within 180 days.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|date=31 July 2005|title=Uzbekistan kicks US out of military base|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/aug/01/usa.nickpatonwalsh|access-date=5 January 2021|website=The Guardian|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115015423/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/aug/01/usa.nickpatonwalsh|url-status=live}}</ref> Karimov had offered use of the base to the U.S. shortly after [[9/11]]. It is also believed by some Uzbeks that the protests in Andijan were brought about by the UK and U.S. influences in the area of Andijan.<ref name=":1" /> This is another reason for the hostility between Uzbekistan and the West.

Uzbekistan is a member of the [[United Nations]] (UN) (since 2 March 1992), the [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] (EAPC), [[Partnership for Peace]] (PfP), and the [[Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe]] (OSCE). It belongs to the [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation]] (OIC) and the [[Economic Cooperation Organization]] (ECO) (comprising the five Central Asian countries, [[Azerbaijan]], Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan). In 1999, Uzbekistan joined the [[GUAM]] alliance (Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and [[Moldova]]), which was formed in 1997 (making it GUUAM), but pulled out of the organisation in 2005.

[[File:SCO meeting (2022-09-16).jpg|thumb|Leaders present at the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation|SCO]] summit in [[Samarkand]], Uzbekistan, in 2022 ]]
Uzbekistan is also a member of the [[Shanghai Cooperation Organisation]] (SCO) and hosts the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) in Tashkent. Uzbekistan joined the new [[Central Asian Cooperation Organisation]] (CACO) in 2002. The CACO consists of Uzbekistan, [[Tajikistan]], [[Kazakhstan]], and Kyrgyzstan. It is a founding member of, and remains involved in, the [[Central Asian Union]], formed with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and joined in March 1998 by Tajikistan.

In December 1994 Uzbekistan applied for the [[World Trade Organization]] membership and received an observer status to start the accession process. The Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan to the WTO held its fourth meeting on 7 July 2020 — almost 15 years after its last formal meeting.<ref>{{cite web|title=Uzbekistan resumes WTO membership negotiations|url=https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news20_e/acc_uzb_07jul20_e.htm|access-date=24 September 2021|website=www.wto.org|language=en|archive-date=8 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210908104848/https://www.wto.org/english/news_e/news20_e/acc_uzb_07jul20_e.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2006, [[UNESCO]] presented Islam Karimov an award for Uzbekistan's preservation of its rich culture and traditions.<ref>{{cite web|date=12 September 2006|title=Surprise at Unesco award for President Karimov {{!}} Reporters without borders|url=https://rsf.org/en/news/surprise-unesco-award-president-karimov|access-date=5 January 2021|website=RSF|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417205008/https://rsf.org/en/news/surprise-unesco-award-president-karimov|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite criticism, this seems to be a sign of improving relationships between Uzbekistan and the West.

[[File:Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev (2024 Victory Day).jpg|thumb|President [[Shavkat Mirziyoyev]] with Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] before the [[2024 Moscow Victory Day Parade|Moscow Victory Day Parade]] in Moscow, Russia, 9 May 2024]]
The month of October 2006 also saw a decrease in the isolation of Uzbekistan from the West. The [[European Union|EU]] announced that it was planning to send a delegation to Uzbekistan to talk about human rights and liberties, after a long period of hostile relations between the two. Although it is equivocal about whether the official or unofficial version of the [[Andijan Massacre]] is true, the EU is evidently willing to ease its economic sanctions against Uzbekistan. Nevertheless, it is generally assumed among Uzbekistan's population that the government will stand firm in maintaining its close ties with the [[Russian Federation]] and in its theory that the 2004–2005 protests in Uzbekistan were promoted by the US and UK.

In January 2008, [[Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva]] was appointed to her current role as Uzbekistan's ambassador to [[UNESCO]]. Karimova-Tillyaeva and her team have been instrumental in promoting inter-cultural dialogue by increasing European society's awareness of Uzbekistan's cultural and historical heritage.

=== Human rights ===
{{Main|Human rights in Uzbekistan}}
{{see also|2005 Andijan unrest}}
[[non-governmental organization|Non-governmental]] human rights organisations, such as [[International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights|IHF]], [[Human Rights Watch]], [[Amnesty International]], as well as [[United States Department of State]] and [[Council of the European Union]], characterize Uzbekistan as "an authoritarian state with limited civil rights"<ref name="US State Dept - human rights">US Department of State, [https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119143.htm 2008 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Uzbekistan] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421161732/https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119143.htm |date=21 April 2020 }}, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour, 25 February 2009</ref> and express profound concern about "wide-scale violation of virtually all basic human rights".<ref>IHF,{{cite web|url=http://www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=3860 |title=International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights |access-date=9 February 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100129175624/http://www.ihf-hr.org/documents/doc_summary.php?sec_id=3&d_id=3860 |archive-date=29 January 2010 }}, 23 June 2004</ref>
According to the reports, the most widespread violations are [[torture]], [[arbitrary arrest and detention|arbitrary arrests]], and various restrictions of freedoms: of religion, of speech and press, of free association and assembly. It has also been reported that forced sterilisation of rural Uzbek women has been sanctioned by the government.<ref>[[OMCT]] and [[Legal Aid Society]], [http://www.omct.org/files/2005/07/2984/omctlas_uzb_report_04_05.pdf Denial of justice in Uzbekistan&nbsp;– an assessment of the human rights situation and national system of protection of fundamental rights] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205023220/http://www.omct.org/files/2005/07/2984/omctlas_uzb_report_04_05.pdf |date=5 December 2010 }}, April 2005.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/01/tweets-from-gulnara-the-dictators-daughter.html|title=Tweets from Gulnara the dictator's daughter|date=21 December 2012|work=New Yorker|author=Antelava, Natalia|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104001130/http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2013/01/tweets-from-gulnara-the-dictators-daughter.html|archive-date=4 January 2013}}</ref>
The reports maintain that the violations are most often committed against members of religious organisations, independent journalists, human rights activists and political activists, including members of the banned opposition parties. As of 2015, reports on violations on human rights in Uzbekistan indicated that violations were still going on without any improvement.<ref>[https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/uzbekistan World Report 2015: Uzbekistan | Human Rights Watch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160323213748/https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2015/country-chapters/uzbekistan |date=23 March 2016 }}. Hrw.org. Retrieved on 20 March 2016.</ref> The [[Freedom House]] has consistently ranked Uzbekistan near the bottom of its Freedom in the World ranking since the country's founding in 1991. In the 2018 report, Uzbekistan was one of the 11 worst countries for [[Political Rights]] and [[Civil Liberties]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Uzbekistan |website=Freedom House |url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/uzbekistan|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180223110947/https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/uzbekistan |archive-date=23 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[2005 civil unrest in Uzbekistan]], which resulted in several hundred people being killed, is viewed by many as a landmark event in the history of human rights abuse in Uzbekistan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Thomas |first=Jeffrey |date=26 September 2005
|url=http://usinfo.state.gov/eur/Archive/2005/Sep/26-966275.html
 |title=Freedom of Assembly, Association Needed in Eurasia, U.S. Says
 |website=USINFO.STATE.GOV
 |access-date=22 January 2008 |url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070421032553/http://usinfo.state.gov/eur/Archive/2005/Sep/26-966275.html
 |archive-date=21 April 2007 }}
</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McMahon |first=Robert |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1059147.html |title=Uzbekistan: Report Cites Evidence Of Government 'Massacre' In Andijon&nbsp;– Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Radio Liberty/Radio Liberty |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |date=7 June 2005 |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903120948/http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1059147.html |archive-date=3 September 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR620152005?open&of=ENG-UZB |title=Uzbekistan: Independent international investigation needed into Andizhan events |publisher=Amnesty International |date=23 June 2005 |access-date=2 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012171720/http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGEUR620152005?open&of=ENG-UZB |archive-date=12 October 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Concern has been expressed and requests for an independent investigation of the events has been made by the United States,<ref>{{cite web|last=Labott|first=Elise|date=18 May 2005|title=Pressure for Uzbek violence probe|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/18/uzbekistan.unrest/|access-date=5 January 2021|website=CNN|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417220920/http://edition.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/05/18/uzbekistan.unrest/|url-status=live}}</ref> the European Union,<ref>{{cite news|title=Uzbekistan: UN, EU Call For International Probe Into Violence|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/1058942.html|access-date=5 January 2021|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=8 April 2008 |last1=Donovan |first1=Jeffrey }}</ref> the [[United Nations]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Annan: Uzbekistan rejects inquiry|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/5/20/annan-uzbekistan-rejects-inquiry|access-date=5 January 2021|website=www.aljazeera.com|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417221032/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2005/5/20/annan-uzbekistan-rejects-inquiry|url-status=live}}</ref> the OSCE Chairman-in-Office and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.<ref>{{cite web|title=OSCE Chairman repeats calls for an investigation into Andijan events following OSCE/ODIHR report|url=https://www.osce.org/cio/46541|access-date=5 January 2021|website=[[osce.org]]|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417213714/https://www.osce.org/cio/46541|url-status=live}}</ref>

The government of Uzbekistan is accused of unlawful termination of human life and of denying its citizens [[freedom of assembly]] and freedom of expression. The government vehemently rebuffs the accusations, maintaining that it merely conducted an anti-terrorist operation, exercising only necessary force.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.press-service.uz/en/gsection.scm?groupId=5203&contentId=8868 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308115436/http://www.press-service.uz/en/gsection.scm?groupId=5203&contentId=8868 |archive-date=8 March 2008 |title=Press-service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan |publisher=Press-service.uz |date=17 May 2005 |access-date=2 May 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition, some officials claim that "an [[information warfare|information war]] on Uzbekistan has been declared" and the human rights violations in Andijan are invented by the enemies of Uzbekistan as a convenient pretext for intervention in the country's internal affairs.<ref>{{cite web|author=Акмаль Саидов|url=http://www.kreml.org/interview/100931204|title=Андижанские события стали поводом для беспрецедентного давления на Узбекистан|publisher=Kreml.Org|date=27 October 2005|access-date=2 May 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805161349/http://www.kreml.org/interview/100931204|archive-date=5 August 2014}}</ref> Male and female [[LGBT rights in Uzbekistan|homosexuality]] is illegal in Uzbekistan.<ref>{{cite news |first=Daniel |last=Avery |title=71 Countries Where Homosexuality is Illegal |url=https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974 |work=Newsweek |date=4 April 2019 |access-date=18 August 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211204842/https://www.newsweek.com/73-countries-where-its-illegal-be-gay-1385974 |url-status=live }}</ref> Punishment ranges from a fine to 3 years in prison.<ref>{{cite web|title=State-Sponsored Homophobia|url=https://ilga.org/state-sponsored-homophobia-report|website=International Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Intersex Association|date=20 March 2019|access-date=18 August 2019|archive-date=8 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200208040345/https://ilga.org/state-sponsored-homophobia-report|url-status=live}}</ref>

There are an estimated 1.2 million modern slaves in Uzbekistan,<ref name="globalslaveryindex1">[http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/ Findings – Walk Free Foundation – Global Slavery Index 2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226154749/http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/|date=26 December 2014}}. Globalslaveryindex.org. Retrieved on 29 November 2015.</ref> most work in the cotton industry. The government allegedly forces state employees to pick cotton in the autumn months.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rferl.org/a/global-slavery-index-uzbekistan-pakistan-worst-offenders/27770928.html|title=Forced Cotton-Picking Earns Uzbekistan Shameful Spot In 'Slavery Index'|work=rferl.org|access-date=14 January 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116164029/http://www.rferl.org/a/global-slavery-index-uzbekistan-pakistan-worst-offenders/27770928.html|archive-date=16 January 2017}}</ref> World Bank loans have been connected to projects that use child labour and forced labour practices in the cotton industry.<ref name="wbloans">{{cite web|title=Uzbekistan: Forced Labor Linked to World Bank|date=27 June 2017|url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/27/uzbekistan-forced-labor-linked-world-bank|publisher=Human Rights Watch|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170718053021/https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/06/27/uzbekistan-forced-labor-linked-world-bank|archive-date=18 July 2017}}</ref>

=== Recent developments ===
Islam Karimov died in 2016 and his successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev is considered by most to be pursuing a less autocratic path by increasing co-operation with human rights NGOs,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/human-rights-watch-delegation-visit-uzbekistan/28629300.html|title=Human Rights Watch Delegation To Visit Uzbekistan|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=20 July 2017 |access-date=22 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222104846/https://www.rferl.org/a/human-rights-watch-delegation-visit-uzbekistan/28629300.html|archive-date=22 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://tashkenttimes.uz/national/1451-shavkat-mirziyoyev-meets-un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights|title=Shavkat Mirziyoyev meets UN High Commissioner for Human Rights|last=akbaryusupov|access-date=22 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222225601/http://tashkenttimes.uz/national/1451-shavkat-mirziyoyev-meets-un-high-commissioner-for-human-rights|archive-date=22 February 2018}}</ref> scheduling Soviet-style [[exit visa]]s to be abolished in 2019,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-exit-visa-scrapped-2019-mirziyoev/28680124.html|title=Uzbekistan To Abolish Exit Visa System In 2019|newspaper=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty|date=16 August 2017 |access-date=22 February 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222104911/https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-exit-visa-scrapped-2019-mirziyoev/28680124.html|archive-date=22 February 2018}}</ref> and reducing sentences for certain misdemeanor offences.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://geopoliticalfutures.com/uzbekistan-flirts-disaster/|title=Uzbekistan Flirts With Disaster – Geopolitical Futures|date=11 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711120617/https://geopoliticalfutures.com/uzbekistan-flirts-disaster/|archive-date=11 July 2017}}</ref>

The Amnesty International report on the country for 2017–2018 found some remnant repressive measures and lack of rule of law in eradicating modern slavery.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=Uzbekistan 2017/2018|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/uzbekistan/report-uzbekistan/|publisher=Amnesty International|access-date=26 May 2018|archive-date=20 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220113216/https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/europe-and-central-asia/uzbekistan/report-uzbekistan/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2020, the United Nations announced that Uzbekistan had made "major progress" on stamping out forced labour in its cotton harvest as 94% of pickers worked voluntarily.<ref>[https://news.trust.org/item/20200205173450-nltm5/ U.N. sees 'major progress' on forced labour in Uzbek cotton harvest] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200425131330/https://news.trust.org/item/20200205173450-nltm5/ |date=25 April 2020 }}, Reuters, 5 February 2020</ref>