Uzbekistan’s new constitution officially came into effect as of May 1, according to the Central Election Commission. The new constitution is composed of six parts, 27 chapters, and 155 articles. The changes were approved by an overwhelming majority of voters (90.2%) in a referendum held on April 30.
The Central Election Commission announced the final results of Uzbekistan’s constitutional referendum held on May 1. Turnout was 84.5% (16,667,097 voters), with 90.2% of votes in favour and 9.35% against. Results in three polling stations were cancelled due to irregularities.
The CEC invalidated 3 polling stations' results for Uzbekistan’s constitutional referendum due to serious violations. However, the CEC stated that these irregularities do not affect the referendum’s validity, with a 84.54% turnout and 90.21% in favour of the amendment.
Food prices in Uzbekistan increased by 1.2% in April 2023, while non-food prices increased by 0.5% and services increased by 0.5%. The largest increase in food prices was for tomatoes, which rose by 21.3%, followed by rice (14.1%), carrots (13.2%), and sugar (10.5%).
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution on April 26 recognizing Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. The resolution was adopted by a vote of 122 to 5, with 18 abstentions. Uzbekistan, along with 17 other countries, abstained from the vote.
The WHO’s European Region, comprising Uzbekistan, has witnessed a surge in measles infections. Uzbekistan has reported 26 cases in just over three months, compared to eight in total last year. Meanwhile, Tajikistan has seen 199 confirmed cases this year, compared to 451 last year.
Over 50% of Uzbekistan’s domestic tourists prefer to travel with families, a recent survey by the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies suggests. However, poor road quality, high prices, and limited access to water, Internet, and sanitation facilities were the main concerns reported.
Uzbekistan and Sierra Leone signed a joint communiqué establishing diplomatic relations in New York. The move makes Sierra Leone the 143rd country with which Uzbekistan has established diplomatic ties.
President Mirziyoyev plans to visit Italy in the summer and hold talks with top Italian officials, including President Sergio Mattarella, PM Giorgia Meloni, and FM Antonio Tajani, Guido Crosetto, Italian Defense Minister, announced during his visit to Tashkent.
President Mirziyoyev is set to visit Germany on May 2−3. During his visit, the Uzbek President will meet with German President Steinmeier and Chancellor Olaf Scholz to discuss deepening bilateral relations. The President will also hold a separate meeting with German business leaders.
According to the preliminary results shared by Zayniddin Nizamkhojaev, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, the voter turnout for the referendum on Uzbekistan’s new Constitution held on April 30 was 84.54%. 90.21% of voters voted to change the constitution, while 9.35% voted against it.
The CEC has launched an investigation into a video showing a polling station member ticking “Yes” on several ballot papers in a row. The CEC has accused her of filling in 16 ballots illegally on behalf of family members. The Prosecutor’s Office is involved in the investigation.
As of 17:00, over 81.39% of registered voters participated in Uzbekistan’s constitutional referendum. The Deputy Chairman of the CEC confirmed that some irregularities occurred at some polling stations. The CEC also found inaccurate information among the reported irregularities.
As of 15:00, over 14 million registered voters, equivalent to 73.17%, cast their votes in Uzbekistan’s referendum on the revised Constitution across 1,758 polling stations. CEC Deputy Chairman Bakhrom Kuchkarov said the commission was looking into reports of possible irregularities.
Polling station irregularities have been reported by Gazeta.uz correspondents during the referendum in Tashkent, with voting for family members being the most common violation. Additionally, observers have been criticized for their passivity.
Ministers and officials of Uzbekistan voted in the referendum on the new Constitution. Some were spotted at polling stations by Gazeta.uz correspondents, while others had photos provided by their department’s press services.
The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and his family vote in a referendum on a revised Constitution. Photo.
The referendum on the revised constitution of Uzbekistan began at 8:00, as polling stations opened for voters, and will continue until 20:00. Gazeta.uz is reporting on the ground.
Deputy Head of the Central Election Commission, Bakhrom Kuchkarov, has announced that the referendum on Uzbekistan’s new constitution has been deemed valid. As of 13:00, over 12 million voters, which constitutes 62.24% of the total number of eligible voters, had participated in the referendum.
Uzbekistan considers importing gas from Russia via the Central Asia-Center pipeline, as the Bukhara-Urals pipeline is obsolete, Uzbek Energy Minister said. The parties are assessing the costs of repairing compressor stations for reverse gas delivery.
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