Journalists have raised the bar for journalism in Uzbekistan — a bar the state now threatens to lower. Double standards: President Mirziyoyev encourages journalists to serve as agents of reform, yet his regulators keep tightening the rope. @Shayxov https://www.voanews.com/press-freedom/uzbek-journalists-push-back-against-media-regulator 1/6

@k_allamjonov, who in 2016 launched his own channel, Milliy TV, sees the current pushback against the media regulator as a sign reforms are working. Allamjonov predicts a rocky road, but believes Uzbekistan will continue to learn the value of critical media and public debate. 2/6

Asadjon Khodjaev, head of Agency of Info & Mass Comm, is widely viewed as a representative of an old guard that aims to slow reforms. But Khodjaev says he stands for independent/reliable media, opposes censorship and persecution of journalists, and values critical press. 3/6

Agency of Info & Mass Comm says ensuring freedom of speech is "a top priority." In a Nov 27 statement, the agency said it was committed to supporting journalists but that it has seen several cases of "inaccurate" coverage, especially on coronavirus and an energy crisis. 4/6

Khurshid Daliyev, a blogger and founding director of http://Human.uz  sees no legal or professional basis to question content that covers issues such as the shortage of natural gas and electricity, or challenging the accuracy of pandemic-related numbers. 5/6 #MediaFreedom

http://Qalampir.uz  predicts some leading sites may abandon the .uz domain and the public may rely more on foreign-based media. "Is this what the government wants?" asks @Shayxov. "To nullify hard work done over four years and, despite promises, go back to where we were?" 6/6