Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the current Uzbek President, has implemented a range of liberal reforms in Uzbekistan’s political and economic system by attracting foreign investment, improving relations with neighboring Central Asian countries, as well as the release of political prisoners that were notably accompanied by the closure of the infamous Jaslyk Prison.
Mirziyoyev’s reforms include ending the practice of forced labor in the country’s cotton fields and releasing political prisoners who were jailed during Karimov’s 25 years in power. He has also taken steps to improve the country’s human rights record, including releasing thousands of political prisoners and establishing a national human rights commission.
In addition to his political reforms, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has implemented a series of economic reforms to improve Uzbekistan’s economy. These reforms include the liberalization of the foreign exchange market, the reduction of state control over the economy, and the privatization of state-owned enterprises. The deregulation of the foreign exchange market has allowed the Uzbekistani som to float freely against other currencies, which has helped to stabilize the currency and attract foreign investment1. The reduction of state control over the economy has led to the creation of a more competitive business environment, which has helped to attract foreign investment and spur economic growth2. Privatizing state-owned enterprises has also helped create a more competitive business environment by reducing the government’s role in the economy. These economic reforms have successfully attracted foreign investment and spurred economic growth in Uzbekistan.
Despite these reforms, some critics argue that Mirziyoyev has not gone far enough in his efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Uzbekistan. For example, while thousands of political prisoners have been released, many others remain in detention, and human rights activists and journalists reporting on corruption and other abuses are still being silenced .
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s efforts to improve the country’s human rights record and promote democracy have been praised by some; others argue that he has not gone far enough in these areas. Nonetheless, his reforms have helped to improve Uzbekistan’s economy and attract foreign investment, and he remains a key figure in Central Asian politics.
