Fast Facts Radio Ozodlik is one of the only sources of reliable news and information in Uzbekistan. The country is one of the most repressive in the world in terms of media freedom and human rights. Language: Uzbek Established: 1953 Distribution: Radio (MW, SW, Satellite), Internet Coverage: Six hours daily Locations: Prague Staff: 10 in Prague, 10 stringers

Media Environment

• Freedom House Freedom of the Press Index, 2012: Not Free (195th/197)
• Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom Index, 2012: 157h/179. Uzbekistan was also named an “Enemy of the Internet” by RSF.
• Journalists and human rights activists in Uzbekistan operate under constant pressure and threats from the government. Radio Ozodlik has been accused by authorities on several occasions of carrying out anti-state activities.
• Radio Ozodlik was forced to close its bureau in Tashkent following the May 2005 massacre at Andijon. Freelancers working for Radio Ozodlik were the first to report on the massacre.
• The Uzbek Service's website is blocked by the government in Uzbekistan.

Highlights

• In spite of the Uzbek government’s blockage of access to Radio Ozodlik’s website, ozodlik.org is the most visited Uzbek language news-site with up to 16 thousand visits per day in 2012.
• Despite profound restrictions, the Uzbek Service features citizen journalism initiatives, Facebook pages and Twitter feeds as standard elements of its programming. In June 2012, Ozodlik pioneered a live online talk show between Tashkent and Prague via Facebook and Skype.
• Radio Ozodlik’s SMS service is bringing hundreds of new voices to the Uzbek program, and Ozodlik's new mobile website receives thousands of visits every month.
• When journalists Malohat Eshonqulova and Saodat Omonova began a hunger strike in June 2011 to protest censorship and corruption at a state-owned TV station, Radio Ozodlik set up a Twitter account for them and posted their tweets on its website. By doing so, Ozodlik kept the government from silencing the journalists and cemented its leading position in the use of Twitter in Central Asia.
• Ongoing publicity and reports by Radio Ozodlik have led to the release of more than half a dozen human rights activists and journalists who were detained as political prisoners.
• Ozodlik’s coverage of the violent ethnic riots in southern Kyrgyzstan in June 2010 gave thousands of people access to the latest news and helped guide humanitarian assistance and aid to Uzbek refugees.

updated: 15 June 2012

Population
28.3 million

Most Common Languages:
Uzbek, Russian, Tajik, Kazakh

Press Freedom Index (Freedom House):
Not Free, ranked 195 out of 197 (2012)

Press Freedom Index (RSF):
157 out of 179 (2012)

Corruption Index (Transparency Int.):
177 out of 183 (2011)

Global Peace Index (IES):
110 out of 158 (2012)

Human Rights Watch:
Report on Uzbekistan (2012)

Amnesty International:
Uzbekistan Report (2011)