Government and Politics of Uzbekistan

Government Type

republic; authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch

Administrative Divisions

12 provinces (viloyatlar, singular - viloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublika), and 1 city** (shahar); Andijon Viloyati, Buxoro Viloyati, Farg'ona Viloyati, Jizzax Viloyati, Namangan Viloyati, Navoiy Viloyati, Qashqadaryo Viloyati (Qarshi), Qaraqalpog'iston Respublikasi* (Nukus), Samarqand Viloyati, Sirdaryo Viloyati (Guliston), Surxondaryo Viloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Viloyati, Xorazm Viloyati (Urganch)

Legal System

evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Uzbekistan dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 14 December 2016) head of government: Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV (since 14 December 2016) cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Legislative Chamber elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held on 9 July 2023 (next to be held in 2030); prime minister, ministers, and deputy ministers appointed by the president election results: Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV 87.7%, with other candidates dividing the remainder of the vote

Legislative Branch

Bicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis consists of an Upper House or Senate (100 seats; 84 members are elected by regional governing councils to serve five-year terms and 16 are appointed by the president) and a Lower House or Legislative Chamber (150 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms). Elections: Last held on October 27, 2024 (Senate) and October 27, 2024 (Legislative Chamber). Election results: Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (LDPU) 64, National Revival Democratic Party (Milliy Tiklanish) 29, People's Democratic Party (NDP) 20, Social Democratic Party Adolat 20, Ecological Party of Uzbekistan 17. Note: Political parties in the Supreme Assembly broadly operate within a framework supportive of the executive leadership. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who came to power in 2016 following the death of long-serving president Islam Karimov, has pursued a degree of political and economic liberalization, though independent political opposition remains limited and international observers have continued to note restrictions on genuine political pluralism.

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court (judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly)

Political Parties

Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Dilorom TOSHMUHAMMADOVA, chairman]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Xurshid DOSTMUHAMMADOV, chief]; Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan or LDPU [Adham SHODMONOV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Asliddin RUSTAMOV, first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar National Democratic Party [Ahtam TURSUNOV, chief]; note - Fatherland Progress Party merged with Self-Sacrificers Party

Head of State

President Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV

Head of Government

Prime Minister Abdulla ARIPOV

Cabinet

Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly

Elections

Last held on October 27, 2024 (Senate) and October 27, 2024 (Legislative Chamber).

Election Results

Senate - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - NA; Legislative Chamber - percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (LDPU) 64, National Revival Democratic Party (Milliy Tiklanish) 29, People's Democratic Party (NDP) 20, Social Democratic Party Adolat 20, Ecological Party of Uzbekistan 17. Note: Political parties in the Supreme Assembly broadly operate within a framework supportive of the executive leadership. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was re-elected in April 2023 with an official vote share of approximately 87%, following a constitutional referendum that reset his term limits and allowed him to stand for an additional two terms. Mirziyoyev first came to power in 2016 following the death of long-serving president Islam Karimov and has pursued a degree of political and economic liberalization, though independent political opposition remains limited and international observers have continued to note restrictions on genuine political pluralism.

Constitution

new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Independence

1 September 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

International Organization Participation

AsDB, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECO, FAO, GUUAM, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SCO, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO (observer)

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador Abdulaziz KAMILOV chancery: 1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036 telephone: [1] (202) 887-5300 FAX: [1] (202) 293-6804 consulate(s) general: New York

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Jon PURNELL embassy: 3 Moyqo'rq'on, 5th Block, Yunusobod District, Tashkent 700093 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [998] (71) 120-5450 FAX: [998] (71) 120-6335

Capital City

Tashkent (Toshkent)

Location

41 19 N, 69 15 E

Time Difference

UTC+5 (10 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

tash means "stone" and kent means "city" in Turkic languages, so the name simply denotes "stone city"

The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan #3, Moyqorghon Street 5th Block, Yunusobod District Tashkent- 100093 Republic of Uzbekistan Telephone: 998-71-120-5450 Fax: 998-71-120-5448 Contact the American Citizens Services section by email at consulartashkent@state.gov If you are a U.S. citizen with an after-hours emergency, please call our hotline at: (99871) 120-5450

Military Branches

Uzbek Armed Forces: Army, Air and Air Defense Forces

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 1-month or 1-year conscript service obligation for males; moving toward a professional military, but conscription in some form will continue; the military cannot accommodate everyone who wishes to enlist, and competition for entrance into the military is similar to the competition for admission to universities