Uzbekistan officially the Republic of Uzbekistan

Recent developments[edit]
Islam Karimov died in 2016 and his successor Shavkat Mirziyoyev is considered by most to be pursuing a less autocratic path by increasing co-operation with human rights NGOs,^[94][95] scheduling Soviet-style exit visas to be abolished in 2019,^[96] and reducing sentences for certain misdemeanor offences.^[97]
The Amnesty International report on the country for 2017–2018 found some remnant repressive measures and lack of rule of law in eradicating modern slavery.^[98] In February 2020, the United Nations announced that Uzbekistan made "major progress" on stamping out forced labour in its cotton harvest as 94% of pickers worked voluntarily.^[99]