An unusual case has emerged in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan: 53-year-old Onarkhol Kubayeva lived for decades using a Soviet Union passport. She was born on December 21, 1972, in the Nurota district of Navoi region and moved to the "Naqurt" neighborhood in Payariq district, Samarkand, after getting married in 1992.

According to the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan, Kubayeva did not apply to local neighborhood committees, internal affairs bodies, or civil registry offices due to family circumstances and a lack of conditions for document processing. As a result, her Soviet passport was never replaced with the main identification document of an Uzbek citizen, and she continued to use it.

After the information spread online, officials from district justice and migration departments took swift action. On March 14, 2026, Onarkhol Kubayeva was officially issued an Uzbek citizen ID card. This incident highlights ongoing issues in the country's documentation system and gaps in the official registration of citizens, despite broader administrative efforts.

In related news, Uzbekistan has reportedly improved its standing in a global passport ranking. Based on 2025 results, the country ranked 79th out of 105 in the Henley & Partners Passport Power Index, with its citizens gaining visa-free access to 62 countries. However, cases like Kubayeva's underscore persistent challenges in bureaucratic processes and the need for systemic reforms to ensure all citizens are properly documented.

Source: podrobno.uz