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Legislation

Uzbekistan Advances Draft Law on Religious Policy

Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber has approved the draft law On State Policy in the Religious Sphere and sent it to the Senate for further consideration. The law, formally titled On Ensuring Freedom of Conscience of Citizens in the Republic of Uzbekistan and Approving the Concept of State Policy in the Religious Sphere, was first discussed in the lower chamber on January 31 and was open for public consultation until February 10. The draft law consists of seven chapters and 41 articles, outlining the goals of state policy in religious affairs and detailing 10 key tasks to support these objectives. The proposed legislation focuses on: Ensuring freedom and equality for all citizens, regardless of gender, nationality, language, or religion, while preventing discrimination Strengthening national unity and respecting traditions while ensuring equal opportunities for all communities Establishing equal legal conditions for citizens’ participation in social life Protecting the right to freedom of conscience without forced religious indoctrination Maintaining secularism in state policies and governance Ensuring public institutions and law enforcement operate based on secular principles Promoting religious tolerance and civic engagement Preventing civil servants from favoring or discriminating against any religion in their professional duties Advancing science, culture, and the arts while benefiting from global achievements Combating radicalization, extremism, and terrorism to protect public safety and social order During the public consultation period, citizens submitted more than 480 comments, suggestions, and recommendations. Lawmakers also held meetings with religious representatives and journalists to gather feedback. On February 6, officials met with representatives from 16 religious groups, all of whom expressed support for the proposed law, emphasizing that it would help maintain religious harmony and stability in Uzbekistan. Authorities stated that most citizens backed the initiative, recognizing its timely development and potential benefits for the country. A working group and the responsible committee reviewed all proposals and incorporated necessary adjustments before finalizing the draft.

Ecology

Uzbekistan Launches Eco-Friendly Program to Reward Green Lifestyles

Uzbekistan has introduced a new initiative to promote eco-friendly habits. A presidential decree has been adopted as part of the state program for implementing the 'Uzbekistan 2030' strategy during the country's 'Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy'. The nationwide movement, One Million Green Families, aims to encourage sustainable living and raise environmental awareness. The program seeks to integrate eco-friendly habits into daily life through advocacy efforts and incentives. The initiative is based on several key principles: Promoting a healthy lifestyle through better nutrition, daily walks, and jogging Encouraging the use of green transportation, such as bicycles Reducing plastic waste Preventing food waste Using water, gas, and electricity more efficiently Sorting waste for recycling To support this initiative, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change, along with the Ministry of Digital Technologies, will launch a digital platform in June. This platform will track participation and offer incentives to those who actively adopt eco-friendly practices. Citizens who demonstrate outstanding commitment to sustainable living will earn the title of "Eco-Active Citizen". Benefits include a 10% discount on public services and lower interest rates on consumer loans from state-owned banks. Families in which all adults achieve this status will be recognized as Green Families, and will have a chance to win one of 14 electric cars awarded annually through an open competition. The initiative also extends to local communities. Mahallas (neighborhoods) where at least half of the residents qualify as Green Families will compete in the Cleanest Mahalla and Greenest Mahalla contests. Winning communities will receive 500 million UZS ($38,500) to fund local infrastructure improvements, such as road repairs, energy-efficient lighting, playgrounds, green spaces, and waste management upgrades.

Starlink Internet

The Twilight of Starlink in Kazakhstan?

For every country in the world, the appearance of the internet has presented vast possibilities but also formidable challenges. This was especially true in Central Asia where the governments are obsessed with controlling information that can be accessed by the public. Kazakhstan is unique among the Central Asian states in that the Kazakh government has expended significant energy and resources to make Kazakhstan a modern country with a tech savvy population. Control over the internet remains an issue and has sparked a debate in Kazakhstan about the use of foreign telecommunications satellites. Countrywide Connections In late 2024, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development stirred controversy by proposing new regulations on imports of telecommunications equipment. One proposal would ban the use of equipment from foreign companies that do not have control centers inside Kazakhstan. In December 2024, the Digital Development Ministry specifically named Inmarsat, Thuraya, Iridium, and Starlink as targets for a usage ban. Kazakhstan actually has a national security law that “prohibits the establishment and operation of communication networks within Kazakhstan if their control centers are based outside the country.” However, Kazakhstan is a large country with most of its population living in roughly the eastern third of its territory. Cities, towns, and villages scattered across the western two-thirds of Kazakhstan are poorly connected to the internet and Kazakh authorities started discussions with Musk’s SpaceX about use of Starlink, a subsidiary of SpaceX with a network of satellites. In October 2023, Kazakh authorities “introduced broadband internet in ten rural schools using Starlink technology in a test mode.” The pilot project envisioned sending Starlink terminals to 2,000 schools. By April 2024, the system was already connecting 447 rural schools to the internet, and by August the number had climbed to 1,731 schools. Kill Switch Required In November 2023, the director of the Ministry of Digital Development’s Telecommunications Committee, Dias Tolegenov, warned citizens that private use of Starliink terminals was illegal in Kazakhstan. The “current version” of Starlink “violates current (Kazakh) legislation, as it does not meet safety requirements,” Telugenov said. This ban is still In effect. In May 2024, the director of Kazakhstan’s Kokterek Space Communications Center, Roman Ermashov, reiterated that according to Kazakhstan’s laws, “projects using foreign satellite communication systems in non-geostationary satellite orbits,” such as Starlink, must have “a gateway (interface) station on the territory of Kazakhstan.” SpaceX refused to install the station in Kazakhstan. “This is about safety,” Ermashov said, “Because if any information security incident occurs, such as a data leak, everyone turns to the state.” This comment by Ermashov cuts to the heart of the matter. During the mass unrest in Kazakhstan in January 2022, authorities cut off the internet around the country to prevent protesters from coordinating their actions or releasing information about what was happening to the world outside Kazakhstan. Later that same year, Tajikistan ‘s government cut off the internet connection to the eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast during unrest, and Uzbek authorities did the same to the western Karakalpakstan Republic when violence broke out...

Legislation

Kazakhstan Moves to Strengthen Penalties for Inciting Ethnic Hatred

The Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan has proposed tougher legislation to prevent interethnic and interreligious conflicts. Minister Aida Balayeva emphasized the need to strengthen legal responsibility for inciting discord, highlighting that approximately 4,000 religious associations representing 18 different confessions are registered in Kazakhstan. According to Balayeva, the existing legal framework should be reinforced. "It is necessary to accelerate the process of legal support for this issue," she stated. She added that the government continues to provide grant support to ethno-cultural associations as part of broader efforts to maintain interethnic harmony and unity. The ministry is also intensifying its fight against misinformation and working to enhance the security of the country’s information space. As part of these initiatives, the law "On Mass Media" was adopted. In 2023, authorities identified more than 67,000 violations of the law on online platforms, leading to the removal of over 18,000 pieces of content deemed unlawful. Additionally, efforts are underway to improve journalism standards, including specialized training programs for media professionals. Kazakhstan’s current legislation already imposes strict penalties for inciting social, national, tribal, racial, class, or religious discord. Under Article 174 of the Criminal Code of Kazakhstan, offenders can face imprisonment for up to 20 years. Several recent cases highlight the government's determination to enforce these laws. In January 2025, Kazakhstani journalist Dana Ormanbayeva was placed on an international wanted list on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. At the beginning of the year, Temirlan Ensebek, author of the satirical blog QazNews24, was arrested for two months for publishing material allegedly containing clear signs of inciting interethnic hatred by insulting representatives of an entire ethnic group.

Legislation

Citizens of Kyrgyzstan Can Now Choose Traditional Surnames Under New Law

Kyrgyzstan’s parliament has approved a bill allowing citizens to adopt surname spellings that reflect national traditions and historical heritage, rather than the conventional Russian-style endings. The legislation passed its third and final reading. MP Mirlan Samyakozho, one of the bill’s authors, explained that the changes will allow citizens to choose surnames without Russian endings while retaining the option to keep them. According to amendments to the Family Code and the Law on Civil Status Acts, new naming formats can now be used in official documents. Specifically: The suffix "uulu" (meaning "son of") may be added to male names. The suffix "kyzy" (meaning "daughter of") may be used for female names. Other variations using the genitive and initial case endings will also be permitted, such as "dyn/tyn," "din/tin," "dүn/tүn" for boys and "dan/tan," "den/ten," "dөn/tөn" for girls. In these cases, a patronymic name will no longer be required. Under the new law, a name like Baktybekov Uson Zhakshylykovich could now be recorded as: Baktybekov tegi Uson Baktybektegi Uson Zhakshylyktyn Baktybek Uson Baktybek Uson Zhakshylyk uulu Similarly, Baktybektegi Nurgul Zhakshylykovna could now be recorded as: Baktybektegi Nurgul Baktybektegi Nurgul Zhakshylyktan Baktybek Nurgul Baktybek Nurgul Zhakshylyk kyzy Following Kyrgyzstan’s independence in the 1990s, many citizens adopted traditional Kyrgyz surnames incorporating "uulu" and "kyzy." However, in the 2000s, a mass return to Russian-style surnames occurred, which authorities attributed to increasing external migration. The new law is intended to restore the option for Kyrgyz citizens to preserve their historical naming traditions in official documents.

Elections

Citing Restrictions, OSCE Withdraws Observer Mission Ahead of Tajikistan’s Elections

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has canceled plans to observe parliamentary elections in Tajikistan in March, saying the authorities have not provided assurances that its mission observers will be accredited for the event. The Dushanbe-based election experts of the OSCE haven’t been able to start working since their observation mission opened on Jan. 22, according to the group’s office for democratic institutions and human rights. The office had concluded that it needed 20 long-term observers and 150 short-term observers to monitor concerns about the impartiality of Tajik election officials, the lack of independence of the judiciary and law enforcement and a deterioration in the rights of expression and assembly. The OSCE office said on Tuesday that it “deploys election observation missions at the invitation of states, and host governments need to provide the necessary conditions for their effective and unrestricted operation. Prolonged uncertainty surrounding accreditation undermines the integrity of this process.” Tajikistan has a presidential system of power and longtime President Emomali Rahmon had said that elections to the lower parliamentary chamber, the 63-member Majlisi Oli, would be held on March 2. Elections to the upper chamber, the Majlisi Milli, will be held on March 28. Rahmon’s eldest son, Rustam Emomali, is chairman of the upper chamber, positioning him as a possible successor to his father, and some of the chamber’s 33 members are appointed by the president. International concerns are growing about the harsh environment for government opponents and journalists not affiliated with the state in Tajikistan, some of whom have been imprisoned. The government often casts critics as a threat to stability in a country that endured a civil war in the 1990s and – with its long border with Afghanistan - points to Islamic extremism as a perpetual threat. The biggest opposition party, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, was labeled a terrorist group and banned in 2015. Rahmon leads the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan and there are half a dozen other parties with small numbers of seats. In a speech to parliament in late December, Rahmon said “national security and sustainable economic development” were among the key goals of his administration. Despite criticism that he is authoritarian, he used the language of democracy in a brief reference to the elections. “The upcoming elections should be held in a transparent, free, and high-level manner in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Tajikistan, and voters should choose their worthy candidates,” said Rahmon, who has been in power since 1994. Observers from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a group of post-Soviet states, will monitor Tajikistan’s elections.