CIS

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon held negotiations in a narrow format and the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council at the "Kuqsaroy" residence in Tashkent. The Uzbek leader emphasized that the state visit of the Tajik leader is a landmark event and an important step in strengthening the centuries-old relations of friendship, good neighborliness, and mutual respect between the two countries. He stated that the new format of cooperation will elevate bilateral relations to a qualitatively new level and enrich the strategic partnership with concrete initiatives.

Following the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council, the Presidents of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, participated in a ceremony to launch 10 major joint projects. According to the press service of the head of state, these initiatives are aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries.

On Friday, a group of children dressed in red appeared on Russia's long-running game show "Field of Wonders," singing a cheerful tune with the lyrics, "We don't want it, we don't want it... it's much more fun to meet your friends nearby!" While ostensibly promoting offline socializing, the performance came amid a broader context of escalating internet restrictions across the country, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues.

At the end of February, the Pakistani government declared an 'open war' against Afghanistan. Since then, the conflict has intensified, with sides exchanging airstrikes, drone attacks, and strikes on border infrastructure. A newspaper interviewed South Asia expert Ildar Yakubov, who analyzed the causes of the conflict, potential development scenarios, and its implications for Uzbekistan and the wider region.

Uzbekistan, Tashkent – AN Podrobno.uz. On March 26, a solemn ceremony was held at the “Kuksaroy” residence to officially welcome President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, who arrived in Uzbekistan on a state visit. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev greeted the distinguished guest and invited him to the podium. In honor of the visit, the national flags of both countries were raised, and a military band performed the national anthems of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan. An honor guard lined up before the heads of state.

At the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has arrived in Uzbekistan on a state visit. During the visit, the leaders of the two countries held a meeting at Tashkent’s “Tashkent-Khumo” International Airport.

A meeting between representatives of Uzbekistan and Russia took place at the General Prosecutor's Office of Uzbekistan, where the sides discussed ways to make labor migration more transparent and safer for citizens. The meeting involved the Department of Migration and Personalization under the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan, as well as delegations from various ministries and agencies of both countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree introducing new restrictions on the export of cash and precious metals from the country. The measures, set to take effect from April 1, 2026, are purportedly aimed at strengthening capital flow controls, ensuring transparency in financial transactions, and bolstering Russia's financial system amid ongoing economic challenges.

Kyrgyzstan has put forward a draft law for public discussion aimed at curbing conflicts and fights between drivers on roads. The proposal includes a fine of 10,000 soms (approximately 1.4 million Uzbek soums) for aggressive actions that threaten traffic safety, with repeat offenses within a year leading to a driver's license suspension for up to six months.

At the invitation of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon will undertake a state visit to Uzbekistan on March 26–27. The visit is set to include high-level negotiations and the inaugural session of the Supreme Interstate Council, chaired by the two leaders.

In a new phase of the ongoing conflict, Russia and Ukraine have engaged in tit-for-tat attacks targeting each other's energy infrastructure, resulting in widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of people, officials from both sides reported. Nearly half a million residents in Russia's Belgorod region and around 150,000 consumers in Ukraine's Chernihiv city and surrounding areas were left without electricity on Wednesday, highlighting the severe humanitarian and economic toll of the war.

Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 24. The discussion focused on the construction of a nuclear power plant (NPP) in Uzbekistan, as well as current issues in the further development of Uzbek-Russian strategic partnership and alliance relations.