Shavkat Mirziyoyev
Uzbekistan · 2016 — present
Est. victims: forced labour legacy
Mirziyoyev was prime minister under Islam Karimov for 13 years. When Karimov died in 2016, he became acting president and then won a staged election. He has eased some restrictions (foreign exchange, tourism) but Uzbekistan remains an authoritarian state with no real political competition. Forced labour in the cotton harvest, though reduced, persists.
Rise of dictatorship
Re-elected in non-competitive vote
Mirziyoyev won a third term with over 87% in an election without genuine opposition. Forced labour in cotton harvest continues despite official denials.
Constitutional amendments extend term limits
2020–2025: Authoritarian continuity
Succeeds Karimov, eases some controls
Mirziyoyev ended the black market in foreign currency, freed some political prisoners, and opened borders. The changes were real but the regime stayed authoritarian.