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Child Online Safety

Uzbekistan Weighs Social Media Restrictions for Children Under 16

Uzbekistan is considering introducing legal restrictions on social media use by children under the age of 16, adding its name to a growing list of Central Asian countries debating how to protect minors in the digital age. According to Gazeta.uz, the proposal was announced by Minister of Preschool and School Education E’zozxon Karimova following an event at the ministry on June 26. Speaking to the publication, Karimova said discussions had already taken place with members of parliament and the Senate, and that a draft law could soon be prepared for public consultation. “We are currently thinking about this issue. We have discussed it with our deputies and senators. We want to prepare a draft law and submit it for public discussion. I believe we should also have such regulations,” Karimova said. The proposal comes as governments across the region grapple with concerns over children’s exposure to harmful online content, cyberbullying, and excessive screen time. Karimova stressed that the objective is not to remove smartphones from children’s lives but to encourage responsible use through legal safeguards and stronger enforcement. “We live in the age of technology. We cannot simply take phones away from our children. Of course, they need them. But there should also be a culture and limits to their use,” she said. She noted that Uzbekistan already requires students to leave their phones before entering school and has rules governing student behavior. However, she acknowledged that enforcement remains inconsistent. “These rules work in some places and not in others. We now want to strengthen enforcement and legally restrict children under the age of 16 from using social media,” Karimova added. The debate mirrors similar discussions elsewhere in Central Asia. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that Kazakhstan was considering legislative amendments to prohibit children under 16 from registering on social media platforms, while exempting messaging services. Lawmakers in Kazakhstan say the proposals are intended to shield children from harmful content, including violence and pornography, while reducing cyberbullying. According to Kazakhstani officials, approximately 200 cases of bullying and cyberbullying involving children had already been recorded in 2025, prompting calls for tighter regulation. The government has also been exploring age verification mechanisms, including SIM card registration for younger users, alongside expanded digital literacy education in schools. A similar debate emerged in neighboring Tajikistan last year. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, lawmakers proposed banning social media access for children under 14 and requiring written parental consent for teenagers aged 14 to 17. While supporters argued that stricter controls were necessary to protect children from harmful online content, critics maintained that digital literacy, parental involvement, and education would be more effective than blanket restrictions. Uzbekistan has not yet published a draft law, and Karimova indicated that any proposal would first undergo public discussion before being submitted for legislative consideration.

Anti-Corruption

Uzbekistan Creates Corruption Convicts Registry in Anti-Graft Overhaul

Uzbekistan has adopted sweeping amendments to its anti-corruption legislation, creating an electronic registry of people convicted of corruption offenses, expanding criminal liability, and imposing new restrictions on those found guilty. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the law on June 22 as part of the government’s broader campaign to strengthen accountability and reduce corruption across the public sector. Officials say the reforms are intended to reinforce what the law describes as an “intolerant attitude toward corruption” throughout society. One of the most significant changes is the creation of an electronic register of individuals convicted of corruption-related crimes. The Ministry of Internal Affairs must enter a person’s details into the registry within three working days after a guilty verdict becomes legally binding. Their information will remain there for the duration of their criminal record. Those listed in the registry will face a series of restrictions. They will be barred from entering the civil service, receiving state awards, standing for elected office or certain appointed positions, serving on public advisory councils, and holding senior posts in state-owned enterprises or public educational institutions. Companies in which a convicted individual owns more than 50% of the shares will also be prohibited from participating in public procurement and public-private partnership projects. The amendments also expand criminal liability for corruption-related offenses. Harsher penalties now apply to crimes committed through abuse of official position, by organized groups, or using information technologies and computer systems. The law introduces tougher punishment for officials who deliberately fail to act for personal gain and strengthens penalties for procurement-related violations. Beyond criminal sanctions, the legislation requires state bodies and organizations to identify positions with a high risk of corruption, regularly assess corruption risks, and develop measures to reduce them. The Anti-Corruption Agency, working together with the Ministry of Justice, will oversee the methodology used for these assessments and maintain a nationwide corruption risk map based on crime statistics, enforcement practices, public opinion surveys, and other official data. The reforms also seek to encourage whistleblowing. Employees who report corruption within their own government institution cannot face disciplinary action for two years without prior notification to the Anti-Corruption Agency. The law also guarantees state incentives for whistleblowers, including one-time financial rewards, certificates of appreciation, commemorative gifts, or other forms of recognition permitted by law. In addition, employees responsible for compliance and internal anti-corruption controls in state institutions will receive enhanced legal protections, including special procedures governing searches, questioning, detention, and criminal investigations involving them. In May 2026, The Times of Central Asia reported that the government had introduced mandatory anti-corruption reviews for major investment projects worth at least $50 million. Under those rules, large public investments must undergo corruption risk assessments before moving forward, as authorities seek to strengthen oversight of public spending and major development initiatives.

Surrogacy Recruitment

Central Asian Women Recruited Into Georgia’s Surrogacy Market via Social Media

Women from Central Asia are being recruited into Georgia’s surrogacy market through social media, adding a new labor channel to an industry already under pressure from foreign demand and inadequate supervision. A University of Oxford study published in Mobilities identifies Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan in that recruitment chain. The author, Dr. Polina Vlasenko of Oxford’s Centre on Migration, Policy and Society (COMPAS), carried out fieldwork in Kazakhstan and Georgia between 2023 and 2024, drawing on more than 100 interviews across the surrogacy and egg donation market. Georgia has allowed surrogacy since 1997. Under Article 143 of the Law of Georgia on Health Care, in vitro fertilization (IVF) may involve a surrogate mother if a woman does not have a uterus and the couple gives written consent. If a child is born, the couple is recognized as the parents. The donor or surrogate mother has no right to be recognized as a parent. That provision gives intended parents direct legal certainty in Georgia, unlike jurisdictions where legal parenthood may require a separate post-birth court process. For women recruited from Central Asia, the difference is in the hidden parts of the process. Opaque recruitment methods can lead into surveillance-style accommodation, while agents often mediate access to the clinic and to payments that may be delayed or disputed. According to a 2020 statement by Georgia’s Ministry of Justice, 98% of people using surrogacy services in Georgia were foreign-citizen couples, while 100% of surrogate mothers were Georgian-citizen women. Before the war, Chinese nationals accounted for 14% of people pursuing surrogacy in Georgia, and Chinese social media later carried accounts of newborns on flights from Tbilisi to Urumqi. Until Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine was considered Europe’s biggest surrogacy hub. By contrast, in December of that year, a Russian law barred foreign clients and stateless people from using the country’s surrogacy system, limiting access to Russian citizens. By 2022, Georgia was already gaining momentum as a reproductive tourism destination, but the war in Ukraine accelerated that rise. As demand grew, recruitment networks began reaching women in Central Asia through social media and private messaging channels. For women recruited from Central Asia, the complexity lies in the online posts and private contacts that turn economic need into pregnancy abroad. Russian-language advertising often uses “surmama,” a shorthand for surrogate mother that now sits inside the market’s online vocabulary. Public posts tied to Georgia programs refer to Tbilisi and Bishkek. Some use Kyrgyz-language wording and hashtags for Kyrgyzstan. The communication network is plentiful in posts yet sparse in detail, as a stack of cash appears in one Instagram post while other accounts use the polished visual language common to fertility advertising online, where smiling young women and clean graphics make paid pregnancy look simple. One Instagram account advertising surrogacy services in Georgia directs users to a WhatsApp number linked to a Kazakhstan-based contact. The account does not establish whether that person recruits women directly or represents a clinic. The WhatsApp profile image offers...

Drug Trafficking

Uzbekistan Toughens Anti-Drug Laws as Synthetic Narcotics and Online Trafficking Rise

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved tougher measures against drug trafficking and endorsed reforms aimed at protecting public health, particularly among young people, as authorities respond to the growing spread of synthetic drugs and internet-based narcotics sales. According to the presidential press service, Mirziyoyev reviewed proposed legislative changes aimed at protecting public health and the nation’s gene pool from drug abuse. The review also covered road safety concerns. Officials outlined the significance of a recently adopted law that increases criminal liability for the illegal circulation of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, their analogues, and other potent substances. The legislation, which had already been passed by parliament, introduces a new chapter in Uzbekistan’s Criminal Code titled “Crimes Against Public Health and the Nation’s Gene Pool.” Mirziyoyev signed the law following the presentation. The new provisions increase penalties for a range of offenses considered particularly dangerous to public health. They also introduce separate criminal liability for organizing illegal drug laboratories, facilitating drug trafficking operations, and running premises used for the illegal distribution or consumption of narcotics. More than 10 categories of drug-related crimes will face tougher punishment under the law. Officials told the president that Uzbekistan’s drug situation has changed significantly in recent years. Traditional narcotics are increasingly being replaced by synthetic drugs, while trafficking methods have shifted toward online platforms and contactless delivery systems. The emergence of clandestine drug laboratories inside the country has also highlighted the need for updated legal and institutional responses. A separate draft law, “On Narcotic Drugs and Potent Substances,” prepared by an interagency working group, was also presented. The proposed legislation identifies seven priority areas of state policy. These include raising public awareness, particularly among women and young people, preventing drug-related crimes committed online, and improving systems for early prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and social rehabilitation of people suffering from addiction. The draft law would also clearly define the responsibilities of 14 government agencies involved in combating drug trafficking and drug-related crime. Authorities plan to tighten oversight of the legal circulation of controlled substances through a digital monitoring system that would track them from import and production to distribution and sale. The presentation also addressed road safety. Officials noted that some traffic accidents resulting in serious injuries or fatalities had involved minors driving vehicles unlawfully. In response, proposals were discussed to improve enforcement mechanisms and increase accountability for such violations. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Mirziyoyev dismissed several senior officials from the Interior Ministry in January, as well as from the National Guard and Emergency Situations Ministry. Among those removed was the head of the Agency for Control of Narcotics and Illegal Firearms, who was criticized for failing to effectively combat the illegal trafficking and use of drugs.

FIFA World Cup

Uzbekistan Seeks Explanation After World Cup Team Subjected to Security Checks in New York

Uzbekistan’s national football team was subjected to extensive security checks before a friendly match against the Netherlands in New York, prompting the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek an official explanation from United States authorities. The incident took place ahead of Uzbekistan’s final warm-up match before its historic debut at the FIFA World Cup. Videos showing players and coaching staff undergoing detailed inspections upon arrival at Icahn Stadium on Randalls Island circulated widely on social media and were later reported by the New York Post. According to the report, members of Uzbekistan’s delegation were searched with handheld metal detectors after stepping off their team bus. Team equipment was also inspected before players were allowed to enter the stadium. Similar security procedures were reportedly carried out on Senegal’s national team during its stay in the U.S. The footage quickly attracted international attention, with some observers questioning whether the measures were excessive for national teams participating in an international sporting event. Speaking to the Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Uzbekistan head coach Fabio Cannavaro downplayed the controversy. The former World Cup-winning captain said the procedures were part of standard security protocols in the U.S. “It was a normal check. Similar procedures are carried out at airports. In America, they are often conducted directly on the tarmac,” Cannavaro said, referring to inspections involving metal detectors and drug-sniffing dogs. The security checks come amid heightened scrutiny surrounding travel and border procedures ahead of the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup. Corriere dello Sport reported that several national teams and supporters have experienced difficulties entering the U.S. Iranian officials have complained about visa-related issues affecting members of their delegation and supporters, while Iraqi striker Aymen Hussein was reportedly detained for several hours for questioning at Chicago airport. Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sought official clarification from U.S. authorities through the country’s Consulate General in New York. Foreign Ministry spokesman Omonulla Fayziev said diplomats had contacted the relevant U.S. authorities and requested an official explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding the inspections. “While we understand that security measures are implemented in accordance with each country’s internal regulations, we believe it is important that such procedures do not undermine the spirit of sporting events, including mutual respect and friendly relations,” Fayziev said. Despite the pre-match controversy, Uzbekistan delivered a strong performance against the Netherlands. The Dutch side secured a 2-1 victory, but both of its goals came from penalties. Uzbekistan appeared to have earned a draw when Igor Sergeev scored in stoppage time, only for a late penalty to give the Netherlands the win. The match marked Uzbekistan’s final preparation before the country’s first-ever appearance at the FIFA World Cup. Reuters reported that Uzbekistan is due to face Colombia in its Group K opener on June 17.

Visa Fraud

German Authorities Investigate Alleged Schengen Visa Scheme Involving Citizens of Uzbekistan

German authorities have launched a major investigation into a suspected visa fraud and migrant smuggling network accused of helping dozens of citizens of Uzbekistan enter the European Union using false information and forged documents. According to Germany’s Federal Police, around 220 officers searched seven locations in Hesse and Lower Saxony as part of an investigation led by the Public Prosecutor’s Office in Weiden in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria. The case concerns suspected commercial smuggling of foreign nationals, unauthorized residence, visa fraud, and document forgery. The investigation began after federal police inspected a traveler from Uzbekistan on a long-distance bus shortly after he entered Germany through a Bavarian border crossing. Authorities believe the suspects, described as members of an internationally operating group that included several people from Uzbekistan, arranged short-term Schengen visas for job seekers from the country. Investigators allege that false information and flight tickets were submitted to obtain the visas. According to prosecutors, after arriving in Germany, some individuals were allegedly provided with forged European Union identity documents. These documents were then reportedly used to register with health and pension insurance systems, tax authorities, municipal registration offices, employment agencies, and job centers, as well as to open bank accounts and activate mobile phone services. German authorities say the group may be linked to 76 visas issued to citizens of Uzbekistan. Investigators estimate that clients were charged €2,000 for obtaining a visa, another €2,000 for flight tickets, and €400 for forged driver’s licenses. During the searches, officers reportedly seized suspected fake identity documents and driver’s licenses from several European countries, more than 20 mobile phones, two laptops, and various banking, insurance, and registration documents. The investigation stems from an October 2025 inspection on the A6 highway near Waidhaus, close to Germany’s border with the Czech Republic. During that check, federal police stopped the passenger, who was traveling on a bus route between Prague and Amsterdam. Although he had a valid passport issued by Uzbekistan and a Czech Schengen visa, officers allegedly discovered four suspected forged Latvian identity cards and a suspected forged Polish driver’s license in his luggage. Officers located 12 people targeted in the investigation during the raids, while authorities also encountered nine other people suspected of residing illegally in Germany. Prosecutors said they are considering whether to seek an arrest warrant for the main suspect, and the investigation remains ongoing. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini di Sant’Agnese, a former Italian ambassador to Uzbekistan, was arrested in Rome on allegations of corruption and facilitating illegal migration. Italian prosecutors allege that Papadia and his associate, Tatiana Tarakanova, operated a scheme involving the issuance of Schengen visas through the Italian Embassy in Tashkent. Prosecutors claim the pair helped arrange visas in exchange for payments.