Uzbekistan Media: 67% Privately Owned as Survey Highlights Press Freedom Concerns

Privately owned outlets now account for 67% of Uzbekistan’s media, presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov said at the third Uzbekistan-Russia Media Forum in Tashkent on November 9. He said internet coverage had reached 94% and discussed the development of digital content and the launch of what he described as Central Asia’s first national media bank, an online collection of photographs and videos. The forum was organized by the Uzbekistan National News Agency and Russia’s TASS news agency. Asadov identified journalist training, joint fact-checking, and the use of AI as areas for cooperation between the two countries. "Information attacks and fake news must not become a source of mistrust and disagreement between our countries and peoples," Asadov said. Uzbekistan ranks 147th out of 180 countries and territories in the 2026 World Press Freedom Index, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). RSF says censorship and self-censorship remain prevalent in the country. The National Study of Media Consumption in Uzbekistan, based on interviews with 1,411 adults in September, found that 56.5% considered stronger legal guarantees of freedom of speech necessary to improve media independence. Of those surveyed, 30.7% called for better professional training for journalists, and 25.9% supported the development of independent media platforms and private news agencies. Respondents also called for improved access to international news and tougher penalties for obstructing journalists’ work. Participants could select up to three measures to improve media independence. The survey also found that 51.6% of respondents used Telegram channels for domestic news, while television was the most trusted source of information for 44.3% of participants.