Uzbekistan - May 2023

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced early presidential elections for 9 July during remarks to parliament on 8 May, more than three years ahead of schedule. Taking advantage of constitutional changes approved in last month’s referendum, the elections will allow Mirziyoyev to remain in office for two more seven-year terms. International observers found the referendum to be “short of genuine political pluralism and competition” and noted numerous serious violations, and analysts have described the repeated voting processes as a method for authoritarian consolidation rather than reform.

Sources: EurasiaNet, OSCE