Anna's space

The Mass Media is the powerful lever of development of a country in the political, economic and social spheres and freedom of speech has a huge meaning. It seemed that abolition of censorship in Uzbekistan on May 2002 would open a vast for the enlargement of the mass media. And it is true: the number of newspapers, magazines, radio stations, and TV channels sharply increased. There are 964 newspapers registered in Uzbekistan today. The incorporators of 306 of them are offices of state and local administrations, 114 of them are owned by public organizations and 109 belong to private individuals or commercial frames and have an entertainment and advertising character. The other newspapers belong to different establishments, industrial enterprises and do not have popular significance. So, the percentage of state newspapers on the Uzbek media market is 51. And if we consider that most public organizations which have owned newspapers were established by the government then, in fact, the state controls about 75 % of newspapers. On average, 10% of the state newspapers budget is profit from advertisements, another 10% is profit from sales and the rest is money from subscription which is mostly forced by the government.

The situation with commercial newspapers is different. The budget states 50 % is profit from sales, 30 % from advertisements and about 10-15 is subscription. In general, there are nearly 50 commercial periodicals which are tabloids which are competitive. The three main tabloids in Uzbekistan are “Darakchi”, “Tasvir” and “Prestige”. Their circulation is about 250- 300 thousands which is 5-6 times more than the main official newspaper “Halq Suzi” (“Public Word”). Tabloids do not publish materials about politics or economics. They contain entertaining information and reprint from foreign editions.

Practically 70 % of newspapers and magazines are published in the Uzbek language, 27 % in Russian and about 3% in the English, Tajik, Kazakh, and German languages.

In spite of the increasing volume of mass media, as I said in the beginning, the circulation is diminishing. The competition and the remuneration of labor on the media market are quite low. All these impact on the quality of print materials and edition. Most articles do not evoke wide public interest because editors lives and works with the idea “stay far from political problems” and exercise excessive circumspection in choosing subjects.

The majority of journalists working in Uzbekistan can entertain, but can’t inform about and analyze real problems. A visual demonstration of this is social opinion in Uzbekistan. While I was studying at University we organized a project called “Mass Media in Uzbekistan”. Students created special blanks with a number of questions which reflected public opinion. The blanks were filled by people in the street, buses, and shopping centers. All that showed that about 60 % of the population reads newspapers. 40 % prefer “Darakchi” and “Tasvir” tabloids. On the question “why they prefer entertaining newspapers” they answered that anyway, there is nothing to read about in officials editions except harvests, International exhibitions in Uzbekistan, and how Uzbekistan confidently goes into democratic and market reforms. Everyone knows that the Mass Media is controlled by the government and they understand all this democracy and freedom of speech are fake.

Despite the sad situation the press market and the fear of the government in the Uzbek Mass Media there are some groups which swim against the current. These journalists are writing mostly on the internet, they are persecuted by the government and most of their web sites are blocked for opening from Uzbekistan. But these people are really fearless and they are trying to use every single opportunity to inform about problems in our society through foreign sources of Media.

So, at the present time we can not speak about the Uzbek Mass Media as a power of democracy, but it reflects the political situation perfectly. “Show me the Mass Media market and its argument and I will give you a political picture of this country”. Journalism is the connecting-link between government and society and even if it is weak now I believe it just takes time, experience and courage to make it strong and powerful.

January 02

Into New Year with old president!

The elections are held. The results are published. I am so upset. I am almost crying... Can't believe.My belief in the great future of Uzbekistan is dying. ...

There are many thoughts in my mind.

I have been told good example once . Imagine yourself in a bus with a lot of other people. Suddenly the bus has broken and it stops just in the middle of the road. You can see many other buses and cars through the window of your bus. All of them are going in the direction you need to go. The best way is just to get off the bus and take another one. The easiest way is to stay and wait when the bus will be repaired. But the real winners are people who repair this bus by themselves. Those people are really great.

Now I feel it just better to change bus......

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November 06

The election of old president before New Year 2007

Yes, exactly new elections of old president. Many people are talking about it as in Uzbekistan as abroad. Some of them hope on changes, another believes everything is predestinated and think that it is just waste of time and money; other became uninterested to it at all.

Will these elections turn to farce and imitation of declaration of public will or we have a chance for transparent elections? Uzbekistan is democratic country which supposes the ascendancy of demos and it is sad to see that people dry up to believe in the best, dry up to believe in their country, dry up to believe in themselves. It is enough to chat with taxi driver, neighbor, friend and you will understand the attitude of people regarding these voting. And it is clear; the majority of population does not know any names of politicians and the other candidates except of I.Karimov. In 1991 and 2000 I.Karimov chose the competitor by himself. First, it was opposition’s activist Muhamad Salih, next elections – Abdulhafiz Djalolov. In both cases the percentage of votes gotten by candidates was very low in comparison with I.Karimov. On elections 2000, Karimov got 96 % of votes which supposed to demonstrate national support of President!!!

Present “scenario” has some changes. There are 5 candidates already presented themselves: Dilorom Tashmuhamedova (“Adolat” party), Ahtam Tursunov (“Fidokorlar” party), Hurshid Dostmuhamedov (“Milliy tiklanish” party), Asliddin Rustamov (“NDPU”). And, of course, the present leader of country got support and been offered as a candidate by “UzLiDeP”.

During this year there were several version of contour in Uzbekistan. It been discussed on such Russian and Central Asian websites as www.cimera.org , www.eurasianet.org , www.ferghana.ru , www.svoboda.org. Some of them wrote about succession of the authority meaning the daughter of president. Another discussed an opposition which should be come out on the first plan now. The third sources were talking about the lifelong domination of Islam Karimov. The situation is becoming clearer now. Mr. Islam Karimov is not going to leave and, moreover, he has been brought forward by liberal-democratic party.

But where is the law?! By the Constitution of Uzbekistan, the president can rule by country two presidential terms maximum. In 2002 there was an amendment made in the Constitution regarding the extension of term of authority conferred by office to 7 years. Karimov rules the country since 1991 and to become president again he needs to break the main law. Is he going to find the way to do that and if yes what’s going to be the reaction of general public. The next term of the governance can cause the plash of discontent among population, because the economic condition goes downhill and at the end it can destabilize the situation.

Another question is opposition. According to the article 34 of the Constitution: “All citizens of theRepublic of Uzbekistan shall have the right to form trade unions, political parties and any other public associations, and to participate in mass movements. No one may infringe on the rights, freedoms and dignity of the individuals, constituting the minority opposition in political parties, public associations and mass movements, as well as in representative bodies of authority”. However, the opposition partiers are prohibited inUzbekistan and there are refused in registration. Opposition’s activist Pulat Ahunov gave the interview to “Freedom” radio station. He told that the candidates who been proposed by initiative groups couldn’t get registration; they went through victimization, beating, arrests… He also added that many initiative groups came to the opinion that the further participation in these undemocratic and dishonest elections is pointlessly. In his interview Pulat Ahunov invoked all his upholders to declare this election undemocratic and illegal and do not take part in voting on 23 of December this year.

The other hope is on multiparty system presented by 5 parties, but there is paradox! If you compare the programmes of these parties you will find out they do not differ from each other. From the one side the government of Uzbekistan shows that the democratic principle of multiparty system is working and the elections will be hold honestly and publicly. From the other side, who and what should people vote for?

Uzbekistan is one of the most strategically, politically and economically important state in Central Asia and the development depends on the government which rules the country. So, the elections are ahead… And, I am sure, people will vote, they will do the best to get the best results.

November 01

dream comes true...

Just simple girl from forgotten by God country.... Although, not, it's not like that. Uzbekistan is the most beautiful country with amazing nature and very kind and open-minded people. And I am very proud of being born there. There are a lot of contrasts in my mind about my motherland and I would like to start this blog exactly about it. The place where I was born, the place which i know as fingers on my hand, the place which I love and hate at the same time, the place where I spent brilliant years of my life and where I would never come back.

Uzbekistan is well known by its history, the area where The Great Silk Road passed through, the centre is political and cultural life in Central Asia in 14th -15th century.

But I am not going to describe the detailed political and economic system or history of country, i only want to share some information which could be useful for those who would be interested to travel or just want to know a little bit more...

So, the summer is perfect season for people in loved with sun. Its really- really sunny and hot!!! It would be lie to say that there are a lot of entertainment and activities to do, but just to see such ancient cities as Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva means a lot. Even me, who lived in Uzbekistan 20 years, still have feeling how amazing and grandiose there are every time when I visit it. To see all these places is the best way to understand the county, life and traditions of people, and mentality. It so differs from the life in capital - Tashkent. Tashkent sorts well with the image of "capital", much more modern and bright. Anyway...there are things to see and to do in Uzbekistan in summer time but one small advice: do not use public transport :-) It is not nice feeling :-) - too crowded , to noisy, to smelly and to slow. So, if you do not want to feel raped do not do it, just trust me!

Another woundeful idea is to go to mountains. Here you can see great view, magic nature and many habitants with donkeys and horses! Mountains activity is great especially in winter: loads of snow, ski, rope road, sledge and very warm at the same time.

From the option "to try" the most important is Uzbek food: pilav, manti, kebab, hanum, norin and uzbek bread. It is on the each corner and its really delicious. Peple love to cook and they eat a lot, enjoing the food as something special in their lives.

Few word aboyt people.... Do not afraid to ask people direction or advice, they will definitely do all possible to help. If you came for dinner in Uzbek family you vill well feel the most special and valued person in the world. It is part of uzbek hospitality and mantality.

In general, Uzbekistan is a country as many others in the world, with its own social disease such as corruption, unemployment, low life standard; where human rights are broken so easy and where people live with the fear of police more than the fear of crime. ( Don't scare now, you are safe there :-)! ) But at the same it is wounderful country to see (unfortunately, not to live at the moment), to get acquainted with original eastern culture, visit historical places and to get more experience in life and spend brillian holidays if you planned it properly :-) !!!!