Uzbekistan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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International Women's Day

On International Women’s Day, Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva Names Uzbekistan’s Female Athletes an “Inspiration”

For International Women’s Day on 8 March, Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva, First Deputy Director of Uzbekistan’s National Agency for Social Protection, has shared comments with The Times of Central Asia in which she gives particular praise to the country’s sportswomen. Mirziyoyeva said: “As we celebrate International Women’s Day, I would like to praise Uzbekistan’s female athletes for inspiring more girls and women and giving them the confidence to pursue their dreams.” Fitness and active pursuits are increasingly at the forefront of government policy, as the country’s Soglom inson - soglom millat (“Healthy Person, Healthy Nation”) initiative – introduced by Mirziyoyeva’s father, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev – gains momentum. Mirziyoyeva added that sport enables women and girls to become leaders, namechecking Olympic gold medalist judoka Diyora Keldiyorova and taekwondo athlete Svetlana Osipova among those who promote active lifestyles. Mirziyoyeva was involved in establishing the Association of Adaptive Sports in Uzbekistan – a platform to unify and develop Uzbek parasports, and create opportunities for athletes with disabilities. She is First Deputy Chairperson of Uzbekistan’s Paralympic Committee, whose athletes are currently competing at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina. “To the female athletes currently competing in Milano Cortina, your perseverance is an inspiration to us all,” her message to The Times of Central Asia continues, mentioning long-jumper Asila Mirzayorova and taekwondo athlete Guljonoy Naimova as Uzbek competitors carrying the country’s hopes at the Paralympics. “May your performances in Italy continue to build a legacy of inclusion and excellence that inspires generations to come - not only in Uzbekistan, but around the world.” Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva’s message comes at the start of a standout year for Uzbek sports. The country’s football team will make its first appearance at a FIFA World Cup at the tournament in North America this summer. Samarkand will host the World Triathlon Championship Series on 25-26 April, then the 46th Chess Olympiad in September. The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup comes to Tashkent in October.

Book Launch

The USSR Is Gone, the Story Isn’t: Joe Luc Barnes On the Road Across the Former Soviet Union

On a foggy but mild London evening, The Times of Central Asia joined journalist and contributor Joe Luc Barnes to celebrate the launch of his new book, Farewell to Russia: A Journey Through the Former USSR. As the wine flowed, the conversation ranged from Silk Road cities to Soviet ghosts. It was exactly the sort of evening you might expect from a book that explores one of the world’s most complex regions with both political sharpness and a healthy sense of humor. Barnes’ book begins with a deceptively simple question: What actually happened to the fifteen countries that emerged following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991? The clichés are familiar: snow, concrete, and the KGB. Nevertheless, Barnes’ depiction reveals that the real story is stranger, funnier, and far more human. In the years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, he has crossed the former Soviet states from Estonia’s tech hubs to Uzbekistan’s minarets and Azerbaijan’s flame towers, gathering stories from taxi drivers, activists, nomads, and anyone willing to converse over a drink. The result is part travelogue and part political detective story, with a strong dose of dark comedy about life after empire. Barnes moves easily between epic scenery and the absurdities of everyday life. Georgian wine and Armenian brandy make an appearance alongside Silk Road bazaars, smoky bars, and long railway excursions. At times there is also the lingering suspicion that someone, somewhere, is still listening. It is a portrait of a region that the West often reduces to geopolitics but which, as Barnes shows, is full of resilience, generosity, and a distinctly post-Soviet sense of humor. [caption id="attachment_45000" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] Image: TCA[/caption] Barnes is well placed to tell the story, as a journalist who has spent more than a decade working across China and the former Soviet space. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, he has visited all fifteen former Soviet republics, a journey that has taken him from former gulag sites in Kazakhstan to Tajikistan’s notorious Anzob Tunnel and through the shifting political landscape of the region. The book was released on March 5, a date heavy with Cold War symbolism. It marks the anniversary of Joseph Stalin’s death in 1953 and Winston Churchill’s Iron Curtain speech in 1946. With 2026 also marking thirty-five years since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Barnes’ journey arrives at a moment when questions about territory, independence, and Russia’s continuing influence feel newly urgent. Farewell to Russia: A Journey Through the Former USSR by Joe Luc Barnes is available now in hardback, audiobook, and ebook.

Pharmaceuticals

EBRD Provides €20 Million Loan to Expand Uzbekistan’s Pharmaceutical Production

Uzbekistan is taking further steps to strengthen its pharmaceutical industry and healthcare system through new investment and sector reforms aimed at reducing reliance on imported medical products. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of up to €20 million to its long-term client Samarkand England Eco-Medical (SEEM) and its sister company, Bayan Medical. Both companies produce intravenous solutions, including sodium chloride, glucose, and amino acid infusions, as well as generic and specialized medicines in tablet and capsule form. The financing will support the installation of new production lines at SEEM, enabling the company to expand manufacturing of in-glass intravenous solutions, antibiotics, syrups and suspensions, medical-grade water, nasal sprays, suppositories, and ointments. Part of the funds will also be allocated to modernizing Bayan Medical’s facilities, including energy-efficiency upgrades and the installation of a blow-fill-seal ampoule production line and other specialized equipment. The companies are also expected to restructure their balance sheets as part of the project. The investment comes at a time when approximately 75% of medical goods used in Uzbekistan are imported. Expanding domestic production capacity is intended to promote localization, strengthen supply security, and align manufacturing standards with international requirements. The project also includes social and workforce components. Bayan Medical plans to introduce internship opportunities for university graduates, expand professional training programs for employees, and create new jobs, including positions accessible to people with disabilities. To date, the EBRD has invested nearly $6.9 billion (€5.8 billion) in Uzbekistan across 205 projects, the majority of which have supported private sector development. Uzbekistan has been the largest recipient of EBRD funding in Central Asia for six consecutive years, reflecting sustained economic reforms and investor engagement. Healthcare indicators point to broader structural progress. According to the 2024 Health Care Index published by CEOWORLD magazine, Uzbekistan ranks first in Central Asia and 64th globally, with a score of 36.26. Kazakhstan ranks 78th, and Turkmenistan 95th. Data from the World Health Organization and the World Bank indicate that Uzbekistan’s Universal Health Coverage service index rose from the mid-50s in 2000 to the mid-70s by 2021, suggesting expanded access to essential medical services. Authorities aim to further increase coverage by 2027 while reducing out-of-pocket healthcare spending through strengthened primary care systems and clearer guarantees of publicly funded services.

Sports

Uzbekistan Continues Busy Sporting Year with Tashkent Judo Grand Slam

The 12,500-capacity Humo Arena in central Tashkent is preparing to host the OTP Group Tashkent Grand Slam 2026 this week. The three-day elite competition starts on 27 February. The event is the second stop on the 2026 World Judo Tour, following the Paris Grand Slam, and will feature 400 world-class judokas representing more than 40 countries. Home hopes are resting on the Olympic medallist and World champion Davlat Bobonov, while other high-profile competitors include Olympic champions Hidayat Hedarov and Zelym Kotsoiev from Azerbaijan, and the Georgian Lasha Bekauri. The Grand Slam is separated into 14 weight categories. Friday’s action focuses on the lighter weight classes, including the women’s 48kg and men’s 60kg divisions. On Saturday the competition switches to the middleweight categories, while the final day on Sunday features the heavyweights. Uzbekistan is quietly establishing itself as a host for judo tournaments, having previously hosted the 2022 Judo World Championships, and the Grand Slam for the last five years. Uzbek judo is on the rise, with Diyora Keldiyorova winning the country’s first ever gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. “We look forward to welcoming the world’s best judokas to compete in Uzbekistan,” said Otabek Umarov, First Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, and Vice-President of the Olympic Council of Asia. “It is a great honour for Tashkent to continue to host major international judo events, and we thank the International Judo Federation for their continued trust. Hosting the Grand Slam not only inspires the next generation of athletes but stands as a testament to Uzbekistan’s dedication to the sport.” The 2026 Judo Grand Slam comes at the start of a standout year for Uzbek sports. The country’s football team will make its first appearance at a FIFA World Cup at the tournament in North America this summer. Samarkand will host the World Triathlon Championship Series on 25-26 April, then the 46th Chess Olympiad in September. The World Aquatics Swimming World Cup comes to Tashkent in October. To ensure the spirit of judo remains accessible to all fans and aspiring athletes across Central Asia, the Humo Arena will offer free admission to the public for the duration of the event. For fans abroad, the competition will be broadcast live to a global audience via the JudoTV platform.

Uzbek Diaspora

Uzbek Janitor Awarded for Saving Child from Seventh-Floor Fall in St. Petersburg

A janitor from Uzbekistan who saved a seven-year-old boy from a seventh-floor fall in St. Petersburg has been awarded state and public honors following the dramatic rescue. The Times of Central Asia reported yesterday that the incident took place on Petrozavodskaya Street, where the child was seen standing on the ledge outside an open window. Moments later, the boy lost his balance and fell. A janitor identified as Khayrullo, a native of Uzbekistan, was working near the building at the time. He noticed the danger and moved closer. As the child fell headfirst, Khayrullo caught him midair and held him tightly against his body, absorbing much of the impact. According to a presidential decree, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev awarded Khayrullo Saydullayevich Ibadullayev the Jasorat medal for bravery. The decree stated that he acted in an emergency situation, risking his own life and health to save the child and demonstrating courage and selflessness. Russian media also reported on the recognition. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the television network RT, announced on X that the 38-year-old Uzbek citizen had received the fourth Tigran Keosayan Award for his heroism. The award, established by Simonyan, is presented to individuals who demonstrate bravery and dedication, particularly in protecting children and vulnerable people. In addition to the honor, Ibadullayev will receive a monetary prize of one million rubles, equivalent to approximately $13 000. The child survived the fall and was hospitalized. Doctors described his condition as stable.

Uzbek Diaspora

Uzbek Janitor Saves 7-Year-Old Boy from Apartment Fall in St. Petersburg

A janitor from Uzbekistan saved a seven-year-old boy who fell from a seventh-floor window in St. Petersburg, according to the news outlet ExpressAsia. The incident occurred on Petrozavodskaya Street, where the child was seen standing on the ledge outside an open window. Neighbors shouted, urging him to return indoors, but he did not respond. Moments later, the boy lost his balance, slipped from the partition, and fell. At the time, a janitor identified as Khayrullo, a native of Uzbekistan, was working near the building. He was the first to notice the open window and the child playing near it. The man called out to the boy and, realizing that the child was climbing further outside and risked falling, moved closer to the building. As the boy fell headfirst, Khayrullo managed to catch him midair. Holding the child tightly against his body, he absorbed much of the impact. He then carried the boy into the building entrance and attempted to provide assistance while neighbors called an ambulance. The child survived and is currently in intensive care. Doctors have described his condition as stable. Khayrullo sustained bruises but did not suffer serious injuries. The building’s management company stated that he has been employed there for only a few months. ExpressAsia highlighted that the incident could have ended in tragedy without the janitor’s quick reaction. The outlet has previously reported similar incidents involving Central Asian migrants in Russia. In one recent case in Moscow, a taxi driver originally from Kyrgyzstan noticed a car speeding toward a pedestrian crossing where children were present. With little time to react, he opened his car door to draw the driver’s attention and prompt him to slow down. The maneuver helped prevent a possible collision, and no injuries were reported.