Our People > Sadokat Jalolova

Sadokat Jalolova

Journalist

Jalolova has worked as a reporter for some time in local newspapers and websites in Uzbekistan, and has enriched her knowledge in the field of journalism through courses at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Amsterdam on the Coursera platform.

Articles

Mongolia

Uzbekistan and Mongolia Target $100 Million Trade Turnover

Uzbekistan and Mongolia discussed expanding cooperation in mining, agriculture, transport, and industrial production during the Uzbekistan-Mongolia Business Forum held in Tashkent, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. More than 70 companies from the two countries took part in the forum, which brought together government officials, business representatives, and investors seeking to deepen economic ties between Central Asia and Northeast Asia. The delegations were led by Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Ilzat Kasimov, Mongolian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Dadanhuu Batbaatar, and Mongolian parliament member Sukhbaatar Erdenebat. One of the main topics was cooperation in geology and mining. The ministry said Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Geology has already started practical work on developing mineral deposits through its representative office in Ulaanbaatar. The sides also reviewed growing trade figures. Uzbekistan’s exports to Mongolia increased by 15.6% in the first quarter of 2026, and both governments set a target of raising annual bilateral trade turnover to $100 million. Industrial cooperation focused heavily on processing Mongolian wool and cashmere in Uzbekistan for export markets. In agriculture, officials discussed plans to increase the number of Mongolian sheep raised in Uzbekistan to one million by 2029, while Uzbek irrigation technologies may also be introduced in Mongolia. Transport and logistics were another key area of discussion. Participants explored launching freight transportation along the Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan-China-Mongolia corridor, which could improve trade routes between Central and East Asia. The forum included B2B and G2B negotiations involving companies such as Suzur Health Med, Prime Nomadic Meat, and Tsamkhag Construction. According to the ministry, the talks resulted in the formation of a package of investment projects and the creation of a permanent mechanism to monitor joint initiatives. Economic ties between the two countries have been growing from a relatively small base. Bilateral trade totaled about $14 million in 2023 but nearly doubled year-on-year, driven by what analysts describe as complementary economies. Uzbekistan exports automobiles, textiles, and agricultural products, while Mongolia supplies livestock products, wool, leather, and minerals.

12 hours ago

Startups

Uzbekistan Startups Win Two Honors at Global Startup Awards

Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem received international recognition this week after two projects from the country won top honors at the Global Startup Awards Grand Finale, held during the EU-Startups Summit in Valletta, Malta. The event brought together startup founders, investors, and technology leaders from more than 54 countries. The Global Startup Awards is considered one of the world’s leading platforms for recognizing innovation ecosystems, selecting finalists through regional and national competitions across multiple continents. According to organizers, Uzbek representatives won in two global categories. Rakhimakhon Nugmanova, founder of the startup Peritech, received the “Ecosystem Hero of the Year” award, while Catextra was named “Best Greentech Startup of the Year.” Speaking to Times of Central Asia, Nugmanova said the recognition carried special meaning because it reflected support from the international startup community itself. “For me, this award is very important because it means people themselves chose me,” she said. “It shows that the work we are doing to develop the ecosystem has been noticed and appreciated by the people it is meant for.” She added that representing both Uzbekistan and Central Asia on the global stage was significant at a time when the region is drawing increasing international attention. “I think people were able to feel my sincerity and my passion for this work,” Nugmanova told The Times of Central Asia. “For many years, I have worked at the intersection of education, technology, and the public sector, and I hope I am making a meaningful contribution to people’s lives, from children to adults.” The success in Malta follows the Global Startup Awards Central Asia regional final held in Tashkent during ICT Week in September 2025 with support from IT Park Uzbekistan. The event helped regional startups connect with investors and international technology networks. Catextra’s victory highlighted growing international interest in sustainable technologies developed in Uzbekistan. The platform focuses on transparency and traceability in the textile industry, helping manufacturers track every stage of their supply chains and verify compliance with international ethical and production standards. A member of the Catextra team, Amal Isamukhamedov, told The Times of Central Asia that the award demonstrated international confidence in an idea developed in Uzbekistan. “For our team, winning at the Global Startup Awards means recognition and trust from European technology structures in our Uzbek idea,” he said. “We realized that our idea can work not only in our region, but also beyond it.” According to Isamukhamedov, the platform is designed to help textile and agricultural exporters from Uzbekistan and Central Asia access higher-value markets in Europe, the United States, and Asia, where buyers increasingly demand proof of product origin and transparent supply chains. “Our platform helps local producers export faster, more cheaply, and more easily,” he said. He also credited growing state support for the startup sector, including initiatives backed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and IT Park Uzbekistan, with helping local startups enter international markets. “Five years ago, these ideas and this political will were only beginning to form,” he said. “Now a new generation of...

1 day ago

Visa Corruption

Former Italian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Arrested in Rome Over Visa Scheme Allegations

Former Italian ambassador to Uzbekistan Piergabriele Papadia de Bottini di Sant’Agnese has been arrested in Rome on accusations of corruption and facilitating illegal migration, according to the Italian newspaper la Repubblica. Italian prosecutors allege that the former diplomat and his associate, Tatiana Tarakanova, operated a scheme involving the issuance of Schengen visas from the Italian embassy in Tashkent. Tarakanova, a 53-year-old Russian-born Italian citizen living in Bulgaria, had reportedly worked with Papadia during his earlier diplomatic service at the Italian consulate in Moscow. According to the report, Papadia assumed control of the embassy’s visa office shortly after taking charge of the Italian embassy in Uzbekistan’s capital on December 2, 2024. Investigators from Rome’s financial police unit cited testimony from a former visa office manager, identified only as Michel, who said the ambassador personally intervened in visa operations and later arranged for Tarakanova to work inside the office. Italian authorities accuse the pair of aiding illegal immigration and committing corruption linked to official duties. Rome prosecutors opened an investigation after financial police examined activities connected to visa processing at the embassy. The arrests were carried out under precautionary measures issued by Annalisa Marzano, a judge for preliminary investigations in Rome. Papadia was detained in Rome and taken to prison while the investigation continues. According to la Repubblica, he had already been removed from his diplomatic post in December 2025. The case has drawn attention because it involves alleged misconduct linked to Schengen visa procedures in Central Asia, where demand for European visas has risen steadily in recent years. Italy has expanded diplomatic and economic ties with Uzbekistan in recent years, including cooperation in trade, migration, and education. Several European countries have also increased visa and labor mobility programs for Uzbek citizens as relations with Central Asia deepen.

1 day ago

Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Uzbekistan Airports Signs Sustainable Aviation Fuel Deal Tied to $6 Billion Biofuel Project

Uzbekistan Airports and Allied Biofuels FE LLC have signed a memorandum of understanding on the supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electro-synthetic sustainable aviation fuel (e-SAF) in Uzbekistan. The agreement outlines plans for cooperation on the supply of cleaner aviation fuel beginning in 2030. The move is part of Uzbekistan’s broader effort to position itself as a regional hub for sustainable aviation and low-carbon transport infrastructure. Under the memorandum, the two sides will work together to develop supply chains and infrastructure for SAF and e-SAF, which are intended to help reduce aviation emissions. Allied Biofuels is developing what it describes as Central Asia’s first integrated large-scale biorefinery. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce around 160,400 tonnes of SAF, 257,000 tonnes of e-SAF, and 5,040 tonnes of green diesel annually. The project, estimated at $6.1 billion, is among the largest clean energy infrastructure initiatives announced in the region. According to the company, the refinery will operate using a 4.45-gigawatt renewable energy system supported by battery storage and green hydrogen production infrastructure. U.S.-based Plug Power has been selected as the preferred supplier of electrolyzer technology for the project. Javlonbek Umarkhodjaev, chairman of the board of Uzbekistan Airports JSC, said the partnership represents an important step toward modernizing the country’s aviation sector and exploring sustainable fuel alternatives. Alfred Benedict, general director of Allied Biofuels, described the memorandum as a major milestone for the company and said the cooperation could support the future development of cleaner air transport across Central Asia. Allied Biofuels said the project continues to receive support from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade and the country’s Investment Promotion Agency. The memorandum follows an earlier announcement reported by The Times of Central Asia in April, when Uzbekistan signed a binding implementation agreement for the same $6.08 billion biofuel project in the Khorezm Region. The agreement was concluded in Perth, Australia, between Khorezm regional authorities and Allied Biofuels.

4 days ago

Asian Development Bank

ADB Annual Meeting in Samarkand Unveils Major Energy, Climate, and Development Initiatives

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) 59th Annual Meeting concluded in the historic Uzbek city of Samarkand after four days of discussions focused on energy connectivity, climate financing, and economic resilience across Asia and the Pacific. Held from May 3 to 6, the gathering brought together government officials, development institutions, economists, and private sector representatives at a time of growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty. It marked the second time Uzbekistan has hosted the ADB Annual Meeting, following the 43rd edition in Tashkent in 2010. A central announcement at the meeting was the unveiling of a broader $70 billion regional infrastructure program aimed at accelerating energy and digital connectivity across Asia and the Pacific. The initiative is structured around two major pillars: a $50 billion Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative focused on cross-border electricity systems, and a $20 billion digital connectivity component aimed at strengthening broadband and data infrastructure across the region. Together, these programmes are intended to reduce energy costs, improve reliability, and deepen regional economic integration. The Pan-Asia Power Grid Initiative (PAGI) In his address to delegates, ADB President Masato Kanda noted that PAGI seeks to support more interconnected and resilient infrastructure systems. "To survive and thrive in this new era, we must build deeply connected and resilient systems," he said, adding that stronger regional grids and digital networks can help countries manage rising energy demand whilst also accelerating the transition to cleaner power sources. The initiative seeks to integrate around 20 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity and the develop enough transmission infrastructure to expand electricity access for up to 200 million people. ADB officials said the bank would use its role as a regional convener to bring together governments, regulators, and private investors to overcome barriers that often slow regional infrastructure projects. The bank pointed to earlier success stories, including the Bangladesh-India power grid interconnection and the Monsoon Wind Power Project in Laos, as examples of cross-border cooperation supported through blended finance mechanisms. [caption id="attachment_37211" align="aligncenter" width="1536"] Image: TCA, Stephen M. Bland[/caption] Climate and Food Security Concerns Climate and environmental financing also featured prominently during the Samarkand meetings. On May 5, the ADB announced that the German government had joined the bank’s Nature Solutions Finance Hub with €5.5 million ($6.5 million) in grant co-financing, some of which has been earmarked for sorely needed watershed rehabilitation in Uzbekistan. The discussions also reflected growing concern over global food security and supply chain vulnerabilities linked to the ongoing war in Iran. Qingfeng Zhang, Senior Director of ADB’s Agriculture, Food, Nature, and Rural Development Sector Office, warned that disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz were increasing the cost of everything from energy to insurance, freight to fertilizer – placing additional pressure on food systems across Asia and the Pacific, including Central Asia. Unlike the shock caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which directly disrupted grain and fertilizer exports, Zhang said the current crisis was affecting agriculture primarily through higher operating and transportation costs. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-quarter of global seaborne oil...

4 days ago

Israel-Iran Escalation

Central Asia Unites: Evacuations Amid Middle East Turmoil

As hostilities between Israel and Iran escalate in the Middle East, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have initiated a comprehensive evacuation of their citizens from high-risk areas, drawing on regional cooperation and humanitarian assistance to ensure their safe return. Regional Support in Evacuation Efforts Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan have stepped in to aid the Central Asian nations' evacuation operations, providing transit routes and logistical support. At the Astara border checkpoint, six Kazakh citizens crossed from Iran into Azerbaijan, where they were offered medical assistance and meals before continuing their journeys. Turkmenistan has also facilitated the safe passage of approximately 120 evacuees, including citizens of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Romania, through its border checkpoints with Iran. Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that foreign diplomats and their families were recently evacuated from Iran through Turkmenistan. The country provided comprehensive humanitarian assistance to the evacuees, offering transportation, food, accommodation, and essential supplies. Turkmenistan’s authorities highlighted that the operation was carried out in close cooperation with foreign embassies and international organizations, reflecting its commitment to humanitarian values, international cooperation, and good neighborly relations, particularly during the “Year of Peace and Trust,” as declared by the United Nations General Assembly at Turkmenistan’s initiative. Uzbekistan has evacuated over 30 citizens of its citizens from Iran via Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “All necessary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of our citizens. The embassies of Uzbekistan in Iran and Israel are operating around the clock,” the ministry stated. Kyrgyzstan has also successfully evacuated 28 of its citizens from Iran via Azerbaijan. "Currently, the necessary assistance is being provided to facilitate the swift return of the evacuees from Azerbaijan to Kyrgyzstan," a Foreign Ministry official stated. Flight Bans and Alternative Routes Kazakhstan’s Civil Aviation Committee has meanwhile implemented a full ban on flights over or near the airspace of Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria following intensified airstrikes in the region. This decision disrupted flights for hundreds of Kazakh travelers, particularly those in the United Arab Emirates and other Middle Eastern nations. To address the situation, alternative evacuation routes were established. On June 15, two FlyDubai flights arrived in Almaty, carrying a total of 332 Kazakh citizens. These flights included passengers initially stranded after the airspace ban and others who had been scheduled to depart after the interruption. Following rerouting operations, airlines such as Air Astana and FlyArystan have warned of disruptions to flights to and from the Gulf and North Africa. Passengers have been advised to check schedules in advance and to expect delays. Mirziyoyev Addresses the Conflict’s Impact The conflict between Israel and Iran has raised serious concerns across Central Asia. Speaking during a government meeting held via videoconference, Uzbekistan’s President Mirziyoyev warned that the hostilities could negatively impact newly developing trade and transport routes in the region. The growing conflict will “have an impact not only on the Middle East, but also on our region. If the escalation continues, trade relations and logistics routes that are...

11 months ago

Crime

Mystery and Intrigue Behind the Death of Inessa Papernaya

Further details have come to light which shroud the death of Inessa Papernaya in yet more mystery. As reported by TCA yesterday, Papernaya and her companion were found dead in a Tashkent hotel on October 20, along with an Uzbek man in a neighboring room whom media sources initially referred to simply as U.Kh. It has since come to light that this person was Khushnud Udekov, a well-known 48-year-old businessman from the Khorezm region whose private gas company was liquidated. Initially, reports stated that Papernaya was a Russian journalist known for her work with lenta.ru and profile.ru. It was also reported that Papernaya was in Uzbekistan on vacation, and was staying at the Karaman Palace Hotel with her fiancé, Maxim Radchenko, whom she had traveled with in order to meet his relatives. However, Papernaya’s last post for either of these publications came in 2019, since when she had become an employee of the Russian mining company, Norilsk Nickel. According to accounts surrounding the death of Papernaya and Radchenko, hotel staff knocked on the door of their room after the couple, who were supposed to have returned to Moscow, stopped answering the phone. Receiving no response, staff entered the room, where they discovered the bodies of the pair in the bathroom. “When she didn’t answer her phone at 11 PM, I felt something was wrong,” Papernaya’s mother told the media. “I knew something had happened.” The body of Udekov was subsequently found in the room directly below, with some local publications speculating that the businessman may have been the target of a contract killing. Preliminary reports attributed the cause of the deaths to poisoning of “unknown origin,” with early suggestions being made that gas seeped into the room through the ventilation system after the hotel’s pool was cleaned on October 19-20, leading to the incident. The hotel where the incident occurred was also still under construction, and the first floor was stuffed with building materials and furniture. Following the gruesome discovery, authorities sealed off the Karaman Palace Hotel. The Prosecutor General’s Office of Uzbekistan launched an investigation under Article 186 of the Uzbek Criminal Code, which covers the provision of unsafe services, and a forensic examination was ordered to determine the precise causes of death. According to Hayat Shamsutdinov, the press secretary of Uzbekistan's Prosecutor General 's Office, the exact cause of death will be determined after a thorough examination, the results of which are expected in about a month. Forensic expert Alexey Reshetun, however, has stated that it is “extremely difficult to imagine that two adults would die in a single room as a result of gas entering through the ventilation.” Relatives of Radchenko, meanwhile, have disputed what they describe as several different versions of the deaths which have been put forward. Radchenko’s sister stated that the family were initially told “he had an epileptic seizure; she ran up to him, slipped, fell, hit her head and died. This is some kind of TV series: how do you fall? What...

2 years ago

Corruption

The Fall and Fall of Salim Abduvaliev – Kyrgyz Authorities Place Uzbek “Kingpin” on Wanted List

The State Committee for National Security of Kyrgyzstan (GKNB) has issued an arrest warrant for the already imprisoned 73-year-old Salim Abduvaliev, who for decades was one of Uzbekistan's most prominent individuals. As part of the investigation, evidence was obtained that Abduvaliev had financed the activities of an organized criminal group led by Kamchybek Asanbekovich Kolbaev, an individual linked to heroin trafficking who was wanted by the U.S. Department of State and was a member of the international criminal group, the "Brothers’ Circle," or “Bratva”. Kolbaev was killed in Bishkek in a security operation in October 2023 at the age of 49. In a dramatic fall from grace, in March of this year, Abduvaliev was sentenced to six years in prison in Uzbekistan for “arms trafficking”. Initially a fan of President Mirziyoyev, even being photographed wearing a t-shirt proclaiming “My President” emblazoned with Mirziyoyev’s image, Abduvaliev eventually fell afoul of reforms and a crackdown on corruption. “Whether it is criminal groups… or officials mired in corruption, if someone flouts the law and causes harm to the state and society, we will never be able to stand by and watch it,” Mirziyoyev said in December 2023. “In ‘New Uzbekistan,’ the law must prevail, and punishment for crimes must be inevitable”. Having been hugely influential in CIS countries for decades, Abduvaliev now also stands accused in Kyrgyzstan of establishing illegal channels for transporting narcotics to Europe. According to the GKNB, Abduvaliev regularly provided material support to Kolbaev and helped him to become the leader of the Kyrgyz criminal world and rank among the most influential criminal figures in the region. In their indictment, the GKNB stated that Kolbaev and Abduvaliev had a close relationship; pictures showing Kolbaev’s visits to “celebrations and other events” organized by Abduvaliev in Uzbekistan number among the evidence. Based on the collected materials, Abduvaliev was placed on the interstate and Interpol databases by the Oktyabr District Court of Bishkek. Widely-known as "Salimboy-Boyvaccha" (which can be used to mean “grandfather”, “rich man”, or “dandy”), Abduvaliev previously held the position of Vice President of the National Olympic Committee and President of the Wrestling Association of Uzbekistan. He was also an associate of the mob boss, Gafur Rakhimov, considered to be one of the most prominent drug lords in the CIS. [caption id="attachment_21414" align="alignnone" width="700"] Image: GKNB of the Kyrgyz Republic[/caption] A mainstay of Central Asian crime circles, Abduvaliev was in the aluminum business with the notorious Michael Cherney – declared by the FBI to be an “organized crime figure” - sponsored the participation of Anatoly Bykov – since jailed for murder - in elections in Krasnoyarsk Krai in Russia. A 2012 article in Argumenty I fakty cites an “FBI Organized Crime” report as stating that in 1987, when Mikhail Cherney came to “conquer Moscow,” he came with “recommendation letters [from] respected” Tashkent businessmen known by their nicknames, Gafur and Salim.” A well-connected source who wishes to remain anonymous for their safety told TCA that “in Uzbekistan there was no single business...

2 years ago