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Bloggers in the Crosshairs: The Complex Reality of Media Freedom in Uzbekistan
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev actively cultivates a reformer image, frequently promising more freedom of speech and press. In reality, however, the country's Internet bloggers, whom Mirzioyev has encouraged to take up a variety of socio-cultural and political issues on their platforms, often face repercussions for expressing opinions critical of the government.