Category: Uzbekistan
In Paris, an Uzbekistani NGO’s fight against human trafficking recognised with the French Republic Human Rights Prize
In 2025, the Uzbekistani NGO Istiqbolli Avlod received the Human Rights Prize of the French Republic. For its director, Nodira Karimova, this distinction is both an honour and a… [...]
In Uzbekistan, one family wants to support the revival of wine production
Once known for its grapes, Uzbekistan saw many vineyards destroyed after the fall of the USSR. The Akhunov family is now helping revive the country’s wine culture. [...]
Dead in the Water: Has the Common Turkic Alphabet Failed to Boost Turkish Influence in Central Asia?
It has been one year since the Organization of Turkic States approved the implementation of a common Turkic alphabet, designed for uniform use in all member states. Under the guise… [...]
Central Asia through the lens of… Kamila Rustambekova
With “Central Asia through the lens of…” Novastan presents Central Asian photographers and their work. Kamila Rustambekova is a photographer and filmmaker based in Tashkent and Amsterdam. In… [...]
Central Asia through the lens of… Behzod Boltayev
With “Central Asia through the lens of…” Novastan presents Central Asian photographers and their work. Photographer Behzod Boltayev followed in the footsteps of his father Shavkat Boltayev, by… [...]
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Bound by Tradition: Silent Suffering of Daughters-in-Law in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has a distinct form of gender-based violence: abuse of and control over daughters-in-law. This reflects cultural tradition where a bride – kelin – leaves her family home to… [...]
New voices: Central Asian short films at the GoEast Festival 2024
Central Asia’s young filmmakers and their work are extremely diverse. The audience at the 24th goEast film festival in Wiesbaden was able to see this for themselves in various… [...]
Night train to Dushanbe – a travelogue of Uzbek-Tajik relations
For many years, relations between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been fraught with tension. Some analysts even dubbed the ties between the two countries a Central Asian ‘cold war’. [...]
Hitting the road: the first female bus drivers in Uzbekistan
A recent change in the law allows women to drive buses and heavy vehicles in Uzbekistan. This is a significant step forward for Uzbekistan’s transportation industry, a demonstration of active… [...]
Saving Snow Leopards: how scientists fight for the survival of a species
Snow leopards – an exclusively Asian species of large mammals of the cat family – live on the territory of 12 countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan,… [...]
In Central Asia, the Freedom of Press is in Decline
Almost every year, countries in Central Asia are placed at the bottom of NGO Reporters Without Borders’, annual ranking for the freedom of press. Every country has dropped in… [...]
Ukraine criticizes Central Asian presidents’ participation in Moscow’s May 9 parade
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has issued a strong statement condemning the presence of Central Asian presidents at the May 9 parade held… [...]