Freedom of the Press
Uzbekistan
2002 Scores
Press Status
Not Free
Press Freedom Score (0 = best, 100 = worst)
84
Legal Environment(0 = best, 30 = worst)
26
Political Environment(0 = best, 40 = worst)
36
Economic Environment(0 = best, 30 = worst)
22
State-owned or -controlled news media determine virtually all information reaching the public. Censorship, active and passive, confronts the few independent journalists. All broadcast media are subject to annual re-registration. Radios have been shut down for carrying balanced reports. All programs are taped, and live programming is forbidden. The government controls the newspaper distribution system. Still, police harass and arrest journalists accused of links to the banned Erk political party. Defamation of the president or officials, and "spreading falsehoods" subjects journalists to imprisonment.