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UZBEK AUTHORITIES ARE to ease strict rules that bar visitors from taking photos or videos in parts of the country’s picturesque capital, in a new bid to encourage tourism.
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has made boosting the tourism sector a priority as his country seeks to emerge from a long period of economic stagnation under late ruler Islam Karimov, who died of a reported stroke in 2016.
But tourists have long been forbidden from capturing on camera the Uzbek capital Tashkent’s elaborate metro stations and some government buildings.
State media has now published a presidential decree saying tourists would be able to take photos of and film public places “without any sort of restrictions” as long as there is no specific legal act to prevent them from doing so.
It was not stated in the decree whether or not tourists would now be able to take photos of the metro stations.
Two travel agencies told AFP they had not yet received a list of spots that could not be photographed.
The decree also said tourists would be permitted to use drones to take photos and video, which was previously not allowed in the capital Tashkent.
Mirziyoyev, who served as prime minister for 13 years before taking over, has made moves to distance himself from Karimov’s authoritarian excesses while also honouring his memory.
The new decree also allows for some foreign nationals to obtain a 72-hour transit visa on arrival in Tashkent airport, providing they can show proof of onward travel.
It was not immediately clear which passport holders this rule would apply to.
Uzbekistan is expected to grant citizens of Israel, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and Japan visa-free entry into the country starting from Saturday.
In December 2016, the government moved to lift visa restrictions for a longer list of countries but the order was unexpectedly deferred until 2021 weeks later.
Analysts attributed the nixing of the law to the intervention of the country’s powerful national security chief, Rustam Inoyatov, whose dismissal after 23 years in power last month was widely seen as paving the way for further reforms.
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Why would anyone attack another let alone 3 innocent children. I’m also thinking of the little 6 year old boy in the UK who was killed last year. What is wrong with people.
@Michael Barry: just awful. That poor child, Arthur, in England. Heads needs to roll there.
@Michael Barry: World is full of monsters. Arthur’s case it very clear proof of it. What they did to that poor child. And now this in Germany. It is unimaginable.
@Michael Barry: I always wonder if warning signs were missed and if such tragedies are increasing or decreasing.
Thats so sad
All this abuse of children… and yet you need to get a license to own a dog. Maybe people need to start proving they are capable of raising a child before allowed have one.
@Richard: based on your assumption dogs don’t get ill treated so…
@DERRY1973: there is no such assumption in Richard’s comment.
Sehr traurig. Liebe Grüße an alle, besonders die Kinder.
So sad, blessings to all concerned, in particular the children.
Omg that’s shocking god love them may they
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