CIS

The International Discussion Club "Valdai" and the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan will hold an annual Russia-Uzbekistan conference on March 30–31 in the city of Termez. Titled "Russia – Uzbekistan: Strategic Partnership in the Eurasian Space," the meeting will delve into various aspects of bilateral cooperation, including transport logistics and regional risks, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

The Russian government has decided to temporarily suspend gasoline exports from April 1 to July 31. This restriction was announced following an order from Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak to the Ministry of Energy, during a meeting addressing the situation on the domestic fuel market.

Relations between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan have followed a complex trajectory since independence. The early years were marked by the Tajik Civil War (1992-1997), which created regional instability. Uzbekistan, aiming to secure its southern borders, supported the government in Dushanbe but also implemented stringent measures, including border mining and the introduction of a visa regime. During this period, contacts were regular but not systematic.

▪️ The Russian government is planning to introduce a ban on gasoline exports for producers starting April 1, 2026, as announced following a meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak. Novak instructed the Ministry of Energy to prepare the corresponding draft resolution, with the measure aimed at stabilizing prices on the domestic market and ensuring priority fuel supply within the country.

The Russian government is tightening its control over what citizens can access online, making it increasingly difficult for outlets like BBC Russian to reach their audiences. Recent restrictions have included widespread mobile internet outages and reported plans to block the Telegram messaging app. These measures mark a new chapter in the long history of the BBC Russian service, which began in 1946.

Tajik President Emomali Rahmon's state visit to Uzbekistan officially concluded in Bukhara. During the visit, the leaders of the two nations – Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon – held narrow-format talks in Tashkent and signed a substantial package of bilateral documents. These documents aim to expand cooperation between the two countries, covering economic, cultural, and technical spheres, but their practical implementation and long-term effectiveness remain uncertain, raising questions about the tangible benefits for regional stability.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon toured a modern textile production facility in the Bukhara Region and discussed prospects for expanding industrial cooperation between the two countries. The heads of state visited the Nigora textile factory, part of the Merganteks cotton-textile cluster. The $35 million enterprise provides a full production cycle, from cotton processing to the output of finished fabrics and clothing.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan arrived in the city of Bukhara to participate in the events of the second day of the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan summit. According to the presidential press service, the head of state welcomed Tajikistan's President Emomali Rahmon at Bukhara International Airport. A ceremonial welcome took place, featuring national songs and dances performed in honor of the distinguished guest.

A court in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk has ordered the removal of the documentary film 'Mr Nobody Against Putin' from three online video platforms. The ruling states that the film "propagates extremism and terrorism."

Following the first meeting of the Uzbekistan-Tajikistan Supreme Interstate Council, a ceremony was held for the signing and exchange of bilateral documents. President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon signed a joint statement on deepening strategic partnership and allied relations.

The head of Russia's state nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev, stated in an interview with journalists on March 24 that Western sanctions have exerted certain pressure on the corporation's projects but have not halted any of them. He claimed that over the past two years, sanctions have created difficulties, yet all projects continue to move forward.

Following the first meeting of the Uzbek-Tajik Supreme Interstate Council, a comprehensive package of documents was signed, outlining the development vectors for the two countries for the period 2026–2028. In addition to a Joint Statement on deepening allied relations, the parties approved programs and "roadmaps" in the fields of industrial cooperation, agro-industrial complex, mining, and new technologies.