The 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference is currently taking place in Samarkand. As local media enthusiastically report, this is the first time in 40 years that the conference is being held outside UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris. Indeed, the Uzbek government worked hard to host the conference at its showcase heritage site. But behind the celebrations, authorities are increasing its repression of activists and bloggers.

Speaking at the conference, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed the creation of a UNESCO Academy for Women’s Leadership and a Platform for Inclusive Education. He also called for a resolution on the preservation of cultural heritage in the context of globalization and climate change.

Despite the progressive rhetoric and amid enthusiastic praise from local media and UNESCO representatives, the government has been heavily criticized for its handling of UNESCO’s protected heritage sites in Samarkand that has resulted in dozens of forced evictions and demolitions, something that has not escaped the attention of the UN in a recently issued press release.

The government is now responding in its usual heavy-handed manner by enlisting Uzbekistan’s security services to tighten control over activists and critical commentators to pre-empt any further negative attention that might spoil the party.

On November 3, 2025, Abdurahmon Tashanov, veteran rights defender and director of the NGO, Ezgulik (Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan), published the following Facebook post:

For four days now, my mobile phone hasn’t been working. The company can’t explain why. I went to a meeting with the Swedish delegation that came to Samarkand for the UNESCO summit — and from there, I was blocked. Several other people told me the same happened to them.

In fact, I went simply because the Swedes are old friends of mine; there was nothing serious or political about it. But in Tashkent, the heads of the criminal investigation department “got worried” and even came to my house, bothering my neighbors. I told a couple of acquaintances: “Explain to those idiots that UNESCO deals with cultural issues — it has nothing to do with us.” But apparently, they didn’t want to upset their bosses’ mood.

Yesterday, I spoke with one of the organizers of the conference. After hearing what happened, he asked, “Do you think the president knows about this?” I said, “I don’t know, but they say he knows even when a snake moves underground.” He sent me a strange emoji, and I decided not to reply. I’m now switching to another company to get a new number.

Xudoyberdi Zominiy, another popular blogger from Jizzakh region, posted the following message on Facebook on November 3: 

Two days ago, the district police officer responsible for my neighborhood came to see me and said: You’re being asked about by the Chilonzor police department’s “counter-terrorism” unit — they want to know whether you’re going to the Samarkand summit or not.

I replied: No, I’m not going. Did they already cook something up for me over there?

The officer called that “big boss” and said: He’s not going to the summit.

Then I asked him: Why, have I committed a crime or something?

He said: No, sir, they just wanted to have a talk with you.

I said: All right, then give me that big boss’s number.

He said: Sorry, sir, I can’t give it to you.

Oh heavens, why is it like this, huh? After all, I’m not even a “negative blogger,” am I?

On November 1, Zafar Xandamov, an activist from Samarkand, posted this message on Facebook:

In the afternoon of October 30, 2025, my internet and mobile phone were completely blocked. The next day, on the 31st, I called the operator Ucell — after I came home and logged into my personal account, SMS and calling services started working again. But my mobile internet still isn’t working. This evening I called the operator again and told them my GPS service wasn’t working and asked them to check it. “Please wait a minute…” they said — then: “Your internet is completely blocked; if you wish, leave an application and it will be reviewed within 5–15 days.” I gave them my details and the operator took my application. What a “blessing” — my rights are being restricted! I am not your enemy, don’t do this to me…

On November 3, Abdunosir Homidov, a blogger from Samarkand, posted a comment to Abdurahmon Tashanov’s post:

These days, the same thing is happening to me too .
I hadn’t taken it seriously, but today is the fourth day — my number isn’t working at all
Don’t worry, I’m just a simple “mardikor” [day laborer -Ed.]; I don’t have any acquaintances among the European delegations…

Another Facebook user who requested anonymity, posted on November 3:

I would say that the main enemy of Uzbekistan’s progress and Mirziyoyev’s reforms are the KGB–SNB-style paranoid thugs. These axe-wielding men, who still operate in the old “Father-knows-best” Soviet manner—like North Korea’s system—are as dangerous as mold.

Mold spreads and multiplies in darkness and dampness, but it dies in sunlight. Transparency is mold’s killer.

Recently, they burned Sharifa’s passport with some toxic substance inherited from the old KGB laboratory. Not long ago, they organized an attack against the leader of the organization that freed Uzbekistan from cotton slavery. And today, they blocked Abdurakhmon’s phone.