Updated September 22, 2020
Uzbekistan
Overview
2019 Parliamentary Elections. The country’s first post-
Uzbekistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia that
Karimov parliamentary elections were held in December
became independent with the dissolution of the Soviet
2019. According to international experts, the elections took
Union in 1991. Because it has the largest population in the
place in an atmosphere of unprecedented openness and
region and is the only country that borders all four other
engagement with voters but did not demonstrate genuine
Central Asian states (Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic,
competitiveness. The composition of Parliament remains
Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan), Uzbekistan is arguably a
largely unchanged, and all five parties that currently hold
potential regional leader. The country also shares a border
seats are seen as pro-government. In 2020, legislative
with Afghanistan to the south and is increasingly engaged
amendments expanded the oversight powers of the Oliy
in the Afghan peace process. U.S. policymakers have
Majlis, and the new parliament has engaged in increased
identified Uzbekistan as a key partner in addressing
debate on policy issues.
regional threats such as illegal narcotics, trafficking in
persons, terrorism, and violent extremism, as well as in
Figure 1. Map of Uzbekistan
promoting stability and development in Afghanistan.
Additionally, the wide-ranging reform effort currently
underway in Uzbekistan creates new opportunities for U.S.
engagement with the country across a range of sectors (See
CRS In Focus IF11408, Reforms in Uzbekistan).
Political Background
Leadership Transition. From 1991 to 2016, Uzbekistan
was led by President Islam Karimov, a former high-level
Soviet official. International observers considered his rule
authoritarian and highly repressive. After his death,
Karimov was succeeded by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, an
experienced politician who was prime minister under
Karimov for 13 years. After serving as Acting President,
Mirziyoyev handily won a December 2016 presidential
election that was criticized by international observers as
failing to meet democratic standards. He has since
embarked on an ambitious reform agenda that challenges

Karimov’s legacy. Mirziyoyev’s stated policies of
Source: CRS
liberalization and modernization aim to transform
Human Rights. International organizations have lauded
Uzbekistan’s economy and attract increased foreign
Uzbekistan’s pro
investment, while the country’s reengagement with its
gress on human rights since its leadership
transition, although concerns persist among some observers.
neighbors is reconfiguring regional dynamics and furthering
The U.S. State Department has recognized the Mirziyoyev
Central Asian connectivity, a U.S. policy priority.
government’s “significant efforts” to eliminate forced labor
in the harvesting of cotton, the country’s primary cash crop,
Government. Uzbekistan’s centralized government
for which millions of people had been coercively mobilized
structure grants the executive branch extensive powers,
on an annual basis since the Soviet period. Although the
with the president exercising a significant degree of control
government has released dozens of political prisoners and
over the legislature and the judiciary. The president
eased repression, the U.N. Committee Against Torture
nominates the prime minister, the chair of the Senate, the
reported in 2019 that torture and ill-treatment of prisoners
general prosecutor, and all regional governors. He also
in Uzbekistan’s prisons remained “widespread” and
approves the cabinet of ministers and appoints and
“routine.” The Uzbek state strictly controls and monitors
dismisses all judges. By law, the president is limited to two
religious practices, and unregistered religious activity is
terms, but this limit was not observed by Karimov. The
criminalized. Authorities reportedly target outward signs of
bicameral legislature (Oliy Majlis) has historically provided
religiosity, particularly hijabs and beards. A new draft law
neither an effective check on the executive nor a venue for
on religion introduced in parliament in 2020 would ease
genuine political debate, although its role has expanded
some restrictions but has drawn criticism for religious
somewhat under Mirziyoyev, who has criticized the
freedom advocates for maintaining onerous registration
legislative branch for failing to exercise oversight over the
requirements and other elements of government control
executive and urged greater initiative from Parliament.
over religious life. According to the State Department, other
major human rights issues in Uzbekistan include arbitrary
https://crsreports.congress.gov

---

Uzbekistan
arrest and detention, restrictions on freedom of expression
Liberalization. Under President Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan
and freedom of the press, and restrictions on civil society.
has implemented economic reforms aimed at decreasing the
role of the state in favor of the private sector and attracting
Terrorism and Violent Extremism. Terrorist attacks
large-scale foreign investment. The government has
within Uzbekistan are rare, but Uzbek nationals have been
prioritized improving the country’s business environment,
involved in international terrorist activity. Government
and the World Bank has commended Uzbekistan’s “strong
crackdowns drove domestic extremist groups out of the
progress” on economic reforms. Corruption remains a
country in the 1990s, and some Uzbek militants have gone
problem, however, and the State Department identifies the
on to ally with the Taliban, Al Qaeda, or the Islamic State
enduring dominance of state-owned enterprises and a lack
(IS) in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Although other Uzbek
of transparency as issues facing foreign investors.
nationals have been involved in terrorist attacks abroad,
they were predominantly radicalized outside of Uzbekistan,
COVID-19. The ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019
often as labor migrants in Russia or Turkey. In 2017, a U.S.
(COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant negative
permanent resident from Uzbekistan who pledged
impact on Uzbekistan’s economy, which is facing pressure
allegiance to IS killed eight people in a vehicular attack in
due to lower exports, lower natural gas prices and export
New York. About 1,500 Uzbek nationals travelled to Syria
volumes, decreased remittances, and domestic economic
and Iraq to fight with IS; including women and children, the
disruption. The International Monetary Fund projects that
total number of Uzbek citizens associated with IS is
Uzbekistan’s GDP expansion will slow to 1.5% in 2020
estimated at 3,000. Uzbekistan was among the first
(down from an earlier projection of 6% growth).
countries to undertake a large-scale repatriation and
rehabilitation effort, bringing back 220 citizens, primarily
Foreign Policy and U.S. Relations
women and children, in 2019. The country’s government
Foreign policy. Under Karimov, Uzbekistan pursued a
has stated its intention to repatriate all Uzbek citizens from
largely isolationist foreign policy. Since 2016, Uzbekistan
Syria and Iraq. Uzbek foreign fighters remain an
has reengaged with the international community and has
international concern due to their ongoing participation in
moved to normalize previously tense relations with its
armed groups active in Syria and Afghanistan.
neighbors. In April 2020, Uzbekistan’s parliament voted in
favor of seeking observer status in the Russia-led Eurasian
Uzbekistan at a Glance
Economic Union. Uzbekistan is also pursuing accession to
the World Trade Organization, a move supported by the
Land Area: 425,400 square km., slightly larger than
Trump Administration. Uzbekistan is a member of the
California
China-led Shanghai Cooperation Organization and has
Population: Approximately 34 mil ion (2019)
received sizeable investment from China as part of the Belt
Ethnic groups: Uzbek 83.8%, Tajik 4.8%, Kazakh 2.5%,
and Road Initiative.
Russian 2.3%, Karakalpak 2.2%, Tatar 1.5%, other 4.4% (2017
est.)
Afghanistan. Since 2016, Uzbekistan has been increasingly
Religion: Muslim 88% (mostly Sunni), Russian Orthodox
engaging with Afghanistan, working to increase trade,
3.5%, other 3%
improve connectivity, and provide support for intra-Afghan
Language: Uzbek (official) 74.3%, Russian 14.2%, Tajik 4.4%,
peace talks. In May 2020, officials from the United States,
other 7.1%
Uzbekistan, and Afghanistan held an inaugural trilateral
GDP/GNI per capita (2019): $57.9 bil ion/$1,800
meeting to discuss deepening cooperation on regional
Data from the World Bank, the CIA World Factbook, and the U.S.
security and other issues.
State Department
U.S. Relations. U.S. relations with Uzbekistan have
improved significantly since 2016, reflecting the country’s
Economy
broader development of international ties. The Trump
Key Sectors. Uzbekistan is a lower middle-income country
Administration has expressed strong support for
Uzbekistan’s reform efforts. President
with significant natural resources and relatively well
Mirziyoyev traveled
developed infrastructure. Major export industries include
to Washington, DC, in May 2018 and lauded the “new era
of the strategic partnership” between the two countries.
cotton, natural gas, uranium, and gold. The country is the
world’s seventh-largest producer of cotton, and the Uzbek
According to Trump Administration officials, Uzbekistan’s
government is moving to transition from raw cotton exports
reengagement with its neighbors has invigorated the U.S.-
to textile production. Uzbekistan has sizeable natural gas
led C5+1 framework, which provides a high-level forum for
reserves; the primary destination for natural gas exports is
discussing regional issues.
China, although the majority of production is consumed
domestically. Uzbekistan is the world’s seventh-largest
U.S. Foreign Assistance. U.S. foreign assistance to
Uzbekistan aims to support the country’s reform efforts,
uranium supplier and has concluded long-term supply
agreements with countries including the United States,
promote the rule of law, and further economic development,
China, India, and Japan. According to official figures, about
especially diversification in agriculture through the
two million Uzbeks work abroad as labor migrants,
utilization of U.S. technology. Aid is also intended to
primarily in Russia; the actual number may be higher.
strengthen border controls in order to promote security and
Remittances accounted for about 15% of GDP in 2019.
regional stability. The State Department requested $34.74
million in appropriations for aid to Uzbekistan for FY2021,
up from $14.4 million requested for FY2020.
https://crsreports.congress.gov

---

Uzbekistan

IF10302
Maria A. Blackwood, Analyst in Asian Policy


Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.

https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF10302 · VERSION 7 · UPDATED

---