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Niginakhon Saida

Niginakhon Saida

The Diplomat

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Uzbekistan’s Afghanistan Push Accelerates

With growing trade volumes, infrastructure initiatives, and initial geological explorations in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan is testing whether economic...

03.03.2026 10

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Why Is Telegram at the Center of Uzbekistan’s Expanding Extremism Blacklist?

As Tashkent’s blacklist of online sources expands, Telegram-based accounts consistently form the largest share. 

20.01.2026 20

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Russia’s Post-Imperial Anxiety and the Rhetoric of Control in Central Asia

The pro-Kremlin TV commentator Vladimir Solovyov's latest remarks framing Central Asia as Russia’s “sphere of interest” and calling the region...

16.01.2026 10

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

In Central Asia, Calls to Bring Back the Death Penalty Are Growing Louder

With violence against women and girls escalating to its most brutal expression – sexual assaults and murders of minors – people in Kyrgyzstan and...

18.11.2025 5

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Uzbek Fighters in Russia’s War Face Relatively Mild Punishments at Home

The number of Uzbek nationals fighting in the Russia-Ukraine war remains significant, and the price of returning home has become little more than a...

04.09.2025 5

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Russian Without Russians: The Politics of Language in Uzbekistan

A new generation is questioning the privileged place of the Russian language in public education and everyday life – while still grappling with its...

01.07.2025 8

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Uzbekistan’s Struggle to Regulate Privately Organized Muslim Pilgrimage Tours Continues

Amid growing reports of fraud, poor service, and legal cases involving thousands of stranded pilgrims, Tashkent continues to introduce new regulatory...

26.04.2025 10

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Why Uzbekistan Continues to Push for Engaging With Afghanistan

Tashkent sees stability in Afghanistan as essential for the security and stability of the broader Central and South Asian region.

15.04.2025 5

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Chess, Culture, and Controversy: Uzbek Grandmaster’s Handshake Refusal Sparks Debate

Islamic practices in Uzbekistan, after enduring seven decades of Soviet-imposed atheism, are now being increasingly adopted by the younger...

04.02.2025 10

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida

Uzbekistan Moves to Protect Rights of Uzbek Citizens in Russia

The Embassy of Uzbekistan in Russia will expand its staff to include a representative from Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, as stipulated...

17.12.2024 3

The Diplomat

Niginakhon Saida