Uzbekistan’s Transformation: Strategies and Perspectives

participation is also discernible in the president’s 
speeches, where he regularly reminds his compatriots 
that “all reforms must originate from society” and 
that society must therefore develop “more activity 
and initiative”, “entrepreneurial spirit” and “business 
acumen”.
102
Such virtues were shunned by the Soviet-
era command state and its planned economy – but 
are vital for the liberal market economy the president 
is working towards. Uzbeks are being told to rethink, 
to mobilise their “inner reserves”, to do their utmost, 
and to display the kind of determination and stamina 
that the nation has often demonstrated in the course 
of its history. Only then can the objective of “radical 
improvement in living conditions for everyone” be 
achieved.
103
“It depends on you,” is the implicit mes-
sage of these speeches, in which the president appeals 
to his compatriots to back his policies. 
The third pillar of the mobilisation offensive is 
the mass media. Liberalisation of the media sector is 
regarded as an outstanding achievement of Mirziyo-
yev’s reform policies. Compared to the strict censor-
ship imposed under Karimov, the media do indeed 
enjoy significantly greater freedom. The official com-
mitment to freedom of speech and Mirziyoyev’s own 
willingness to address problems has encouraged the 
emergence of a lively blogging scene in Uzbekistan.
104
It is has become easier for foreign journalists to gain 
accreditation and media outlets that had been blocked 
in Uzbekistan since the unrest in Andijan in 2005 are 
now available again. These include Deutsche Welle, 
the BBC’s Uzbek service, Eurasianet and Fergana, as 
well as Uzmetronom which offers a forum for critical 
internet journalism in Uzbekistan. Access to the web-
sites of Human Rights Watch and Amnesty Inter-
national has also been restored.