AGP Executive Report

Cabinet Reshuffle: Erkinjon Turdimov has been appointed Uzbekistan’s first deputy prime minister and minister of education and science. He will coordinate work across education, science and healthcare; Presidential Administration chief Saida Mirziyoyeva will oversee implementation. CIS Summit: In Turkmenistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev urged members to remove trade barriers, coordinate food security and advance low-carbon technologies. Uzbekistan will chair the CIS in 2027, and leaders endorsed 2029 as the year of transport connectivity. Regional Cooperation: Central Asian states agreed on water withdrawals and reservoir schedules for 2026–27, though national quotas remain undisclosed. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan also pledged to deepen trade and industrial ties, including joint manufacturing and agricultural supplies. Political Rights: A blogger was sentenced to four years in prison in Uzbekistan; rights groups also called for the release of jailed Karakalpak activist Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov and an investigation into new torture allegations.

Regional Diplomacy: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev joined CIS leaders in Avaza on Friday; Uzbekistan is set to chair the bloc in 2027. At Thursday’s C6 summit, where Azerbaijan took part as a full member, Mirziyoyev called for joint industrial projects, green energy cooperation and stronger transport links. Uzbek-Turkmen Ties: Mirziyoyev and Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed an agreement creating a High-Level Strategic Partnership Council, with cooperation planned in trade, energy, transport, agriculture and water management. Parliamentary Relations: Uzbek and Kyrgyz officials discussed closer political, economic and cultural ties, including through inter-parliamentary cooperation. Governance Scrutiny: An OCCRP and RFE/RL investigation alleges former senior security official Otabek Umarov obtained UAE citizenship while serving in a post that bars dual citizenship. Separately, Uzbek blogger Sirojiddin Adilov was sentenced to four years in prison.

Regional Summit: At the first Central Asia–Azerbaijan leaders’ meeting in Awaza, Shavkat Mirziyoyev urged the six countries to move beyond trade toward joint production, shared digital services and stronger transport and energy links. Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan Ties: Mirziyoyev and Serdar Berdimuhamedov signed an agreement establishing a High-Level Strategic Partnership Council, adding a formal framework for cooperation on trade, energy, transport, agriculture and water. Diplomacy: Mirziyoyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed expanding economic ties and supporting regional peace. Security Scrutiny: An OCCRP and RFE/RL investigation alleges that former senior security official Otabek Umarov acquired UAE citizenship while in office, when Uzbek rules reportedly barred him from holding another nationality. Rights Concerns: Human rights groups urged Uzbekistan to release jailed Karakalpak activist Dauletmurat Tazhimuratov and investigate his allegations of beatings and torture in prison.

Regional Diplomacy: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Turkmenistan for talks with Central Asian and Azerbaijani leaders, with trade, transport, energy and regional cooperation on the agenda. Water Cooperation: Central Asian states agreed on reservoir operations and water allocations for the 2026–27 non-growing season, aiming to balance downstream needs and storage across the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins. Press Freedom: Blogger Sirojiddin Adilov was sentenced to four years in prison on extortion and fraud charges. Human Rights Watch cited concerns over alleged trial irregularities and the timing of his arrest after critical reporting; the court said the case was unrelated to his social media work. Agriculture: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization awarded Mirziyoyev its Agricola Medal, recognizing Uzbekistan’s food-security progress while highlighting ongoing challenges including water scarcity and land degradation.

Power and Accountability: An investigation alleges that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s son-in-law, Otabek Umarov, obtained UAE citizenship while serving as a senior security official, despite rules barring dual citizenship. It says he remained in the post for 18 months. Regional Diplomacy: Mirziyoyev is due to visit Turkmenistan as Uzbekistan joins regional talks in Awaza on trade, transport and green energy. Uzbekistan also signed a CIS statement backing steps to prevent an arms race in outer space. U.S. Ties: A Trump envoy says the president wants to visit Uzbekistan, though no date is set; U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is reportedly planning a Samarkand visit for a C5+1 meeting. Tashkent Forum: Taliban Agriculture Minister Ataullah Omari is in Tashkent for a forum on landlocked countries and is expected to discuss agricultural cooperation with Uzbek officials. Investment: Uzbekistan’s investment ministry signed a deal for Wildberries to build a Tashkent-region logistics hub, projected to create about 7,500 jobs. Health Measures: Uzbekistan has tightened border health checks amid reports of a possible plague case in Russia; the WHO says no plague case has been confirmed there.

Public Health & Security: A suspected pneumonic plague death in Russia’s Irkutsk region has triggered quarantines, hospital screening, and border health checks across Central Asia, with Uzbekistan raising alerts for relevant services as WHO and ECDC monitor the situation and Russia denies an outbreak. Diplomacy & Information Politics: Latvia moved to expel Russian journalist Leonid Ragozin as persona non grata over pro-Kremlin comments, underscoring Baltic unease as the Kremlin faces mounting pressure to share details. Uzbekistan in Global Finance: Octobank is showcasing Uzbekistan’s push for deeper international banking links at Sibos Miami, focusing on correspondent banking and cross-border payments. Regional Trade & Industry: Russia-Uzbekistan trade turnover rose 20% in Jan–Jul 2026 to about $7.5bn, while Pakistan and Uzbekistan discussed expanding industrial and trade ties under a February 2026 framework. Parliamentary Cooperation: Morocco and Uzbekistan signed an MoU to institutionalize parliamentary cooperation, including legislative oversight and capacity building. Military Cooperation: Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan held the “Eternal Brotherhood – V” special forces exercise to boost interoperability and counter-terrorism readiness.

Public Health & Borders: Russia’s suspected plague scare after the death of a Siberian anti-plague institute worker has triggered quarantines and new screening measures, while Central Asian states—including Uzbekistan—tighten sanitary checks amid calls for faster, clearer information. Uzbekistan Diplomacy & Food Security: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met FAO chief Qu Dongyu, receiving the Agricola Medal and agreeing a new five-year partnership focused on digitalization, AI in agriculture, climate finance, and training. Archaeology & Heritage: An Uzbekistan–US expedition in Bukhara’s Shahristan site uncovered Samanid-era stucco panel fragments with Kufic inscriptions, now moving into restoration and conservation. Regional Security: Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan carried out the “Eternal Brotherhood – V” special forces exercise, emphasizing interoperability, reconnaissance, hostage rescue, and joint operations. Trade & Connectivity: The World Bank-backed push for the Trans-Caspian “Middle Corridor” highlights a need for $55B+ by 2040 and warns that border delays and fragmented documentation still block faster growth. Sports & Soft Power: South Korea’s Son Heung-min set a new national scoring record in a friendly win over Uzbekistan, while Uzbekistan hosted major chess and cultural events tied to international attention.

Uzbekistan’s Investment Push: Reuters reports TBC Bank is weighing an IPO for its Uzbekistan unit as reforms boost digital payments and investor confidence, with officials pointing to major LSE fundraising momentum. Public Health & Border Security: A suspected pneumonic plague death in Russia’s Irkutsk has triggered quarantine and enhanced sanitary checks across Central Asia, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan introducing preventive measures while Russia insists there’s no confirmed link to plague. Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the UAE signed a memorandum to study a rail route through Afghanistan to Pakistan’s seaports, aiming to expand freight and trade access. Mining Cooperation: An Uzbek delegation met Oman counterparts to expand geology and critical minerals cooperation, including joint exploration and investment plans. Judicial Cooperation: Pakistan’s Supreme Court delegation took part in the Samarkand AACC congress focused on AI and technology in justice systems, adopting the Samarkand Declaration. Aviation & Logistics: Kazakhstan’s Aktau airport outlined a $600m expansion plan targeting cargo growth and multimodal links, with construction expected to start in early 2027.

Public Health & Border Security: A suspected pneumonic plague case in Russia’s Irkutsk region—after the death of a 28-year-old lab worker—has triggered hospital quarantines, contact monitoring, and heightened border checks. US–Russia Watch: U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is “watching and monitoring” closely while Russia insists no confirmed plague link has been established. Regional Cooperation: Uzbekistan, along with Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, introduced preventive measures to block importation of dangerous infections. Afghanistan Diplomacy: In Moscow-format talks, Russia pushed for “equality-based” cooperation with Kabul and stressed humanitarian assistance; a joint statement failed after Afghan and Pakistani positions diverged. Transport & Trade: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and the UAE signed an MoU to study a rail corridor through Afghanistan to Pakistan’s seaports, while broader Central Asia–South Asia connectivity remains a key theme. Domestic Governance & Society: Uzbekistan’s president congratulated Tajikistan’s leader on his birthday, highlighting expanding ties in transport, energy, water and agriculture. Culture & Youth: Kyrgyzstan’s Bishkek Arena is set to host major international concerts, and a youth interfaith dialogue forum in Dagestan included participants from Uzbekistan.

Regional Connectivity: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE signed an MoU to study a new railway corridor through Afghanistan and Pakistan, aiming to link Central Asia to Pakistan’s seaports and potentially turn Afghanistan into a key transit hub. Diplomacy on Afghanistan: Russia will host the next “Moscow format” consultations on Afghanistan, with senior officials from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Iran, Central Asian states including Uzbekistan, and others expected to discuss Kabul-Islamabad tensions and agree on a joint statement. Judicial Cooperation: India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant met Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court chair Robakhon Makhmudova in Tashkent, focusing on bilateral judicial cooperation and the use of AI and digital tools in courts. Sports & National Pride: Uzbekistan returned from the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games with 70 medals (21 gold), finishing fifth overall, while the Games officially closed and will move to Doha in 2030. Local Governance: Osh marked its 3,026th anniversary with a large public celebration highlighting infrastructure and socio-economic progress. Human Rights Watch: Human Rights Watch warned that thousands of alleged ISIS-linked men and boys transferred to Iraq face abuse and unfair trials amid stalled repatriation efforts.

Regional Diplomacy: Taliban foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi traveled to Moscow for the next Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, with talks expected to cover political and economic ties, terrorism and drug trafficking, and with Uzbekistan among the expected participants. Water Security: Uzbekistan’s water leadership again stressed that Central Asia’s water challenge can’t be solved unilaterally, calling for cooperation, trust, accurate measurement and shared responsibility across the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins. Judicial Cooperation: India’s Chief Justice Surya Kant met Uzbekistan’s Supreme Court chair Robakhon Makhmudova in Tashkent, discussing bilateral judicial cooperation and the use of AI and digital tools in courts. Transport & Connectivity: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and the UAE signed an MoU to study a new rail corridor linking Central Asia through Afghanistan to Pakistan’s seaports, while Afghanistan also opened the Wakhan Corridor Road for direct trade with China. Regional Politics & Economy: Commentary pieces highlight Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan strategic partnership as a stability pillar and argue that political trust is increasingly translating into economic gains. Sports & Soft Power: The Asian Games closed in Japan with China topping the medal table and Uzbekistan finishing among the top teams, while Uzbekistan also hosted major chess and cultural events.

Uzbek Education Overhaul: President Mirziyoyev signed a decree merging the preschool/school education and higher education science ministries into a single Ministry of Education and Science, aiming for one management system from preschool through university and stronger public accountability. Regional Security Drills: Azerbaijan, Turkey and Uzbekistan held the “Power of Unity-2026” exercise in Azerbaijan, with 3,500 troops rehearsing drone swarms, electronic warfare, border incidents and maritime operations. Transport & Connectivity: The UAE signed a trilateral MoU with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for the Central Asia–South Asia railway project, while regional partners also keep pushing corridor thinking that links transport to investment and production. Eurasia Policy Watch: A CEPA-linked report says the US is shifting Trans-Caspian plans from concept to commercial execution under TRIPP, with connectivity framed as an economic agenda. UAE Travel Disruptions: Dubai and Abu Dhabi flight delays and cancellations were reported, with airlines warning passengers to check schedules amid the regional security situation. Sports With Uzbekistan in Focus: Uzbekistan’s Takhmina Ikromova defended her Asian Games all-around title, underscoring Central Asia’s growing presence in major regional competitions.

Uzbek Tourism Push: Uzbekistan plans to develop 30 new tourism areas by 2030, using comprehensive master plans to coordinate transport, hotels, and recreation, with a new Project Office for Tourism Infrastructure Development set up under the Tourism Committee to bring in international expertise. Regional Connectivity & Trade: A U.S.-linked Eurasia connectivity push is reframing corridors as investment and production platforms, with coverage highlighting TRIPP and Trans-Caspian plans moving from concept toward financing and implementation. Central Asia Air Cargo Growth: Tashkent-based My Freighter says it will add four freighters by end-2026 and target a 50-aircraft fleet by 2030, building a dedicated cargo terminal at Tashkent Airport to expand routes toward Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas. Security & Mobility Watch: Turkmenistan launched an e-visa system on Oct. 1, formally ending the invitation-letter requirement, but the portal and eligibility rules remain unclear for travelers. Afghanistan Health & Rights: The Taliban’s health minister asked Russia for medicines and training after Kabul cut off Pakistani drug imports, while a detained Uzbek poet in Takhar faces charges tied to protest poetry. Sports With Uzbekistan in View: Asian Games coverage notes Uzbekistan’s Takhmina Ikromova defending an all-around title, while Uzbekistan’s presence also appears in wrestling results and officiating disputes.

Uzbekistan–Denmark Ties: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met Denmark’s foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, agreeing to strengthen the institutional and legal framework for cooperation as trade has surged nearly fivefold and Danish firms expand projects in mining, chemicals, food, agriculture, water, energy, pharma, and transport/logistics. EAEU Integration: Prime ministers of Eurasian Economic Union states met in Minsk to review trade, customs, transport corridors, industrial cooperation, and common energy markets, including updates on electronic document systems at maritime checkpoints and a priority rail corridor in Russia. Tourism Infrastructure Push: Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee, via a new project office, is advancing plans for 30 new tourist zones by 2030 with coordinated transport, urban planning, hotels, and recreation infrastructure, with international expertise in view. Regional Connectivity via Rail: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the UAE signed a memorandum to study a new railway route through Afghanistan and Pakistan to reach Pakistan’s seaports, aiming to boost transit fees and trade. Constitutional Justice & AI: A Constitutional Court delegation from Uzbekistan joined an AACC congress in Samarkand focused on constitutional justice in the era of digitalization and AI, with discussions on safeguards and AI’s analytical role. Cyber Cooperation: The US announced $5m for cybersecurity and digital-sector support across Central Asia through CRDF Global, targeting cyber hygiene, incident response, critical infrastructure, and startup grants. Human Trafficking Case: An Uzbek woman wanted internationally for human trafficking was arrested in Istanbul with Turkish and Uzbek cooperation and is being processed for handover to Uzbekistan.

Constitutional Justice & Courts: A delegation led by Azerbaijan’s Constitutional Court chair Farhad Abdullayev took part in the 7th Congress of Asian constitutional courts in Samarkand, where Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s message was read and the Samarkand Declaration was adopted, with discussions on constitutional justice in the age of digitalization and AI. Regional Cooperation: Uzbekistan’s Senate first deputy chairman Sodiq Safoev used the CAMCA forum in Baku to push for upgrading the consultative meeting format into a stronger institutional structure, echoing Mirziyoyev’s earlier call for a Community of Central Asia with a rotating secretariat and stronger national coordinators. Security & Law Enforcement: Turkish police arrested a long-wanted Uzbek woman in Istanbul over alleged human trafficking, with Uzbekistan and Turkey coordinating the operation before the suspect was handed back. Culture & Public Life: Tashkent will host the 11th International Biennale of Contemporary Art, “Event Horizon,” from October 12–16, featuring exhibitions across multiple venues plus masterclasses and a scientific-practical conference. Cybersecurity & Defense: Azerbaijan’s defense cybersecurity chief said cybersecurity is now treated as national security, citing work on human capital and cyber components in joint drills that included Uzbekistan and Türkiye.

Aviation & Sanctions: Flydubai suspended Israel flights after an altercation in the flight deck near Ben Gurion; Emirates also halted Tel Aviv codeshares, while Iranian airlines face wider regional restrictions tied to US sanctions, including UAE suspensions. Uzbekistan Transport & Trade: Uzbekistan’s air cargo market surged—air freight volume up 182% (2019-2024) and 33% in H1 2026—aiming for 300,000 tonnes annually by 2036 as reforms and an open skies policy expand hub capacity. EU Financing for Connectivity: EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar says the EU is building an investment pipeline with IFIs for Uzbekistan’s Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor rail, road and logistics projects, with railway upgrades and border connectivity a priority. Regional Security & Defense: The “Power of Unity – 2026” joint drills between Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan concluded, highlighting combat readiness and experience-sharing with observers from nine countries. Justice & Digital Governance: India’s CJI Surya Kant urged digitising courts and using AI to assist judges, but stressed “human primacy” so AI can’t replace judicial decision-making. Family Policy: Uzbekistan reported a 20% jump in administrative penalties for negligent parents, with officials linking weak supervision to rising youth crime risks.