Uzbekistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Iran

The Iran War Is Repricing Central Asia’s Connectivity

Europe’s aviation regulator has extended its current conflict-zone bulletin for the Middle East and Persian Gulf through April 10 and continues to advise operators to avoid Iranian and adjacent airspace at all altitudes. Reuters reported soon after that the squeeze on normal flight paths was pushing more traffic into narrower routes, notably over Azerbaijan and Central Asia. The Strait of Hormuz, meanwhile, has not returned to normal commercial use. A limited number of exempted vessels have crossed, but passage remains selective, politicized, and uncertain rather than routine. The question, consequently, is no longer only whether Central Asia has alternatives to single-route dependence but whether those alternatives remain commercially usable, taking into account the increased risk, delay, insurance, fuel burn, and congestion. What has changed is the cost of maintaining reliable connectivity. The Cost of Reliability The Iran conflict imposes higher operating costs on the wider Eurasian air corridor that is now taking displaced traffic. EUROCONTROL estimates that about 1,150 flights a day continue to be affected by re-routing linked to the Middle East crisis. These add roughly 206,000 kilometers of flying and 602 tons of extra fuel burn per day. Maritime trends are similar. In March, war-risk premiums in or near the Gulf had risen more than tenfold in some cases, with hull war premiums moving from about 0.25% of vessel value to as much as 3%. Air-freight rates on some routes rose by as much as 70% as shippers redirected urgent cargo away from disrupted sea lanes and restricted airspace. Higher surcharges and narrower margins for operational error can make routes lose commercial value even if they remain formally open. The wider macroeconomic setting has also made resilience more expensive. Higher oil prices make every detour costlier, raising freight charges, power costs, and production costs across the region’s trading partners. Even where Central Asian cargo does not move through Iranian waters, the same pattern is still present. Asian policymakers were already confronting a combined oil-price and currency shock at a moment when roughly 80% of the oil shipped through Hormuz normally goes to Asia. The World Bank’s March food and nutrition security update notes that around 20% of global oil supplies and about one-third of global fertilizer trade transit the Strait of Hormuz. Urea prices, for example, surged by nearly 46% month on month between February and March 2026. Importers in Central Asia, as well as in Europe and the South Caucasus, remain under pressure from higher household food costs and tighter producer margins. The price of resilience is now showing up in increased costs for farm inputs, food costs, and household budgets. How the Burden Falls Kazakhstan remains the best placed in the region to absorb the shift. The CPC pipeline still carries about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports; oil income contributes 52% of the state budget. Earlier disruptions had constrained Kazakhstan to reroute 300,000 tons of crude, and the country continues to rely on supplementary outlets such as Ust-Luga, the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, and China when its main...

Cotton Industry

Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector: Focus Shifts to Farmers as Dialogue Continues

The Times of Central Asia previously published an interview with Komoliddin Ikromov, head of the Agribusiness Association, addressing recent land disputes, legal processes, and ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector. In a separate conversation, Umida Niyazova, founder of the Uzbek Forum for Human Rights, has offered an additional perspective, focusing on the conditions faced by cotton and wheat farmers. Her remarks come in the context of a recent joint report by the Uzbek Forum and Human Rights Watch examining structural issues in the agricultural system. While the report has drawn international attention, Niyazova emphasized that its primary focus differs from earlier discussions centered on cotton pickers. Focus on farmers rather than pickers Niyazova said public debate in recent years has largely focused on forced labor among cotton pickers, particularly prior to reforms introduced after 2019. However, she noted that the new report shifts attention to another group. “Our recent report on the cotton sector in Uzbekistan does not focus on cotton pickers, but rather on cotton and wheat producers, farmers,” she told The Times of Central Asia. “This is a different segment of workers whose problems have, for decades, remained overshadowed by the issue of forced labor of cotton pickers... The central finding of our report is that the working conditions of farmers producing cotton and wheat in Uzbekistan place them at risk of forced labor.” Basis for assessing risk Niyazova explained that this conclusion is based on eleven indicators developed by the International Labour Organization, “which define warning signs that individuals may be at risk.” However, the report does not conclude that specific cases constitute forced labor. “We did not have sufficient information to determine that any particular farmer is working under forced labor conditions,” she told TCA. “However, we were able to conclude that cotton and wheat farmers in general are at risk due to the conditions in which they work.” These indicators include factors such as vulnerability, intimidation, threats, withholding of wages, and abusive working conditions. At the same time, she acknowledged that Uzbekistan has made progress in addressing earlier concerns related to cotton picking. Changes in cotton picking practices Niyazova said the situation for cotton pickers has changed significantly in recent years. “These are seasonal workers, primarily rural residents, who are recruited by farmers or mahallas (neighborhoods) to harvest cotton over a two-month period,” she said. “Since the 2020 harvest, payment rates for manual cotton picking have increased. This has been an important, though not the only, factor in attracting voluntary laborers.” According to the Ministry of Agriculture, a recommended price of 2,000 UZS ($0.16) per kilogram of hand-picked cotton was set for 2025. During the harvest, prices may also be determined through agreements between cluster operators, farms, and pickers. Niyazova said additional reforms have contributed to changes in the sector, including the introduction of private clusters, increased mechanization, and government oversight. “Mechanization has increased year by year, reducing the need for manual labor,” she said, adding that by 2025, more than 50% of the harvest...

Animal Welfare

Uzbekistan Drafts New Law to Strengthen Animal Protection

Lawmakers in Uzbekistan are preparing a draft law aimed at strengthening protections for animals and addressing animal cruelty more systematically, according to the Ecological Party’s faction in the Legislative Chamber. Despite a reported decline in incidents in recent years, cases of animal cruelty continue to be reported, often without a clear motive and sometimes for entertainment, the party said. Deputies argue that existing measures, although recently tightened, remain insufficient to fully address the problem. On March 25, Uzbekistan adopted amendments increasing penalties for animal cruelty. Under the revised rules, offenders may face fines ranging from 15 to 25 times the base calculation amount (approximately $34) or up to 15 days of administrative detention. However, lawmakers say these measures should be complemented by a broader legal framework. The new draft law, titled “On the Protection of Animals from Cruel Treatment,” is being developed as a comprehensive response. According to the party, it draws on international experience and is designed not only to punish violations but also to prevent them. Among its key provisions is a clearer legal definition of acts constituting animal cruelty, along with stricter prohibitions. The draft also proposes revising criminal liability, including increasing fines to up to 200 times the base calculation amount (approximately $6,775) or introducing prison sentences of up to one year. In addition, the legislation would require offenders to fully cover veterinary treatment costs for injured animals, even if those costs exceed the animal’s market value. It also outlines responsibilities for pet owners, including proper care and a ban on abandoning animals. The draft includes provisions to support the development of pet-friendly public spaces and proposes legal recognition of guide dogs and emotional support animals in public transport. It also emphasizes education and public awareness through schools and media to encourage more humane treatment of animals.

Trade

Afghanistan Aims to Increase Trade with Central Asia to $10 Billion

Afghanistan aims to increase trade with Central Asian countries to $10 billion over the next three to four years, Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said at a meeting in Kabul. According to Muttaqi, Afghanistan’s trade turnover with countries in the region reached approximately $2.7 billion in 2025, marking a significant increase compared to previous years. The statement was made during a consultative dialogue involving representatives from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, focused on regional cooperation, trade, and the development of transit routes. Muttaqi said Afghanistan intends to leverage its geoeconomic position to connect Central Asia with markets in South and West Asia. Among key projects, he highlighted the TAPI gas pipeline, which is currently under construction. Afghan authorities are seeking to expand economic ties despite ongoing international sanctions affecting the banking sector, which continue to constrain investment inflows. At the same time, Russia remains the only country to have officially recognized the Taliban government that came to power in 2021. Several countries, including China, India, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, maintain a diplomatic presence in Kabul. Landlocked Central Asian countries view southern routes through Afghanistan as an alternative to northern corridors via Russia, which have been complicated by sanctions. Afghanistan shares a border of more than 2,300 km with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, and continues to face security challenges, including threats from extremist groups, drug trafficking, and irregular migration. However, Muttaqi said the situation along the borders remains generally stable. Earlier reports indicated that Kazakhstan is exploring the possibility of investing in rare earth metal mining in Afghanistan. The national company Tau-Ken Samruk is conducting laboratory analysis of samples collected in Afghanistan and Rwanda.

Chess

Uzbekistan’s Sindarov Beats American Nakamura, Stays in Lead at FIDE Candidates

Playing with the black pieces, Javokhir Sindarov defeated Hikaru Nakamura at the FIDE Candidates Tournament on Friday and maintained his lead at the elite chess event underway on the shores of the Mediterranean. The 20-year-old Uzbekistani grandmaster has won four games after five rounds at the tournament near Paphos, Cyprus, in what some commentators have described as the best start seen at the tournament in many years. Sindarov now has 4.5 points, one point ahead of Fabiano Caruana in second place. The winner of the eight-player, 14-round tournament will challenge the current world champion, India’s Gukesh Dommaraju, later this year. Sindarov’s win over Nakamura of the United States came after he defeated Caruana, who is also American, on Wednesday. Nakamura spent about one hour considering one move, and Caruana had also got into time trouble against Sindarov. “Interesting opening choice from Sindarov,” American grandmaster Hans Niemann, who is not playing in the candidates tournament, tweeted during the Sindarov-Nakamura game. “Slight surprise and betting that Hikaru won't have a dangerous counter-surprise prepared. If Sindarov remembers the line, it seems like it will end in a perpetual. Sindarov continues to impress.” In chess, a perpetual is a situation where one player can endlessly check the other player’s king, leading to a draw. Sindarov, however, turned expectations of a perpetual into a victory. Sindarov won the 2025 World Cup in Goa, India, but his wins over Nakamura, ranked second in the world, and third-ranked Caruana indicate that the Uzbekistani is a consistent contender at the very top of men’s chess. After defeating Nakamura, he signed autographs for children at the Cap St Georges Hotel & Resort, where the candidates tournament is being held. While Sindarov is ranked just outside the top ten in classical chess, his performance in Cyprus is expected to boost his ranking. Another player from Uzbekistan, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, has moved up to fourth place in the classical ratings list. Abdusattorov is currently playing in the Freestyle Chess Open in Karlsruhe, Germany. Top-ranked Magnus Carlsen is also playing there.

Prisoner Transfer

Russia Ready to Transfer Over 3,000 Uzbek Prisoners

Russia is prepared to facilitate the transfer of more than 3,000 Uzbek citizens convicted on its territory to serve their sentences in Uzbekistan, but the process remains stalled due to legal obstacles, Kommersant reported, citing Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova. Speaking at a meeting of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Human Rights Commission, Moskalkova said Russia is willing to support the transfer mechanism. However, she noted that Uzbekistan cannot currently accept the prisoners because it has not ratified the 1998 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. “Russia is ready to assist, but the country of citizenship cannot accept them due to the lack of ratification of the convention,” she said, according to RIA Novosti. The agreement allows individuals convicted in one participating country to serve their sentences in their home country. It is intended to support rehabilitation and improve humanitarian conditions by allowing individuals to remain closer to their families and social environment. Russia ratified the convention in 1998, and it is also in force in several countries in the region, including Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia. For Uzbek nationals, however, Uzbekistan’s absence from the treaty has prevented similar transfers. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in 2025, 191 Uzbek citizens applied for asylum in Russia, highlighting shifting migration patterns and increasing pressure on legal and humanitarian systems in the region.