In September 2018 Uzbek blogger Davronbek Tojialiyev quietly packed some clothes in a bag and waited for a seemingly imminent arrest, following the detention of several other online activists.

But police have never come for him and the bespectacled 34-year-old writes on about sensitive issues in breaks between his work as translator, one of a handful of bloggers breaking long-time taboos by criticising state policies and officials.

The detentions in September were an apparent slap on the wrist for those who had, in the authorities' eyes, gone too far. However, it is unlikely to stop people like Davronbek from pushing the boundaries.

Publicly criticising the Tashkent government was something unthinkable for its 32 million citizens under Islam Karimov, who had run the mostly Muslim former Soviet republic from 1989 until his death in 2016, brooking no dissent.

"During Karimov's time bloggers could write only about small issues, mostly social, it was not possible to talk about serious and political subjects," says Tojialiyev.

Karimov's successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has proclaimed a new era of openness, moved to curb the powers of the feared security forces, and launched a website through which citizens could raise their grievances.

This has helped Tashkent improve its image abroad and start working on attracting badly-needed foreign investment. It also encouraged bloggers to abandon self-censorship and question policies they saw as excessively strict and unnecessary.

Success has encouraged bloggers to become more assertive. So when the government published a draft of school uniform regulations in June, some criticised it for disallowing hijabs, headscarves worn by Muslim girls and women.

Some online activists, including Tojialiyev, strongly criticised the proposed regulations, demanding that female students be allowed to wear hijabs.

Several prominent bloggers attacked the regulations some even called for protests. They were later joined by an imam of one of Tashkent's mosques who urged Mirziyoyev to intervene.

The pushback was swift: police arrested several bloggers and the activist imam was dismissed. One of the bloggers, Adham Olimov, told Reuters a court had sentenced him to 15 days of administrative arrest on charges of disobeying police orders - which he denies.

But while Tojialiyev's optimism has waned, his determination has not.

Tojialiyev says many bloggers have since stopped writing about sensitive issues and friends have asked him to do the same, but he has not experienced any pressure or intimidation from the authorities.

In September 2018 Uzbek blogger Davronbek Tojialiyev quietly packed some clothes in a bag and waited for a seemingly imminent arrest, following the detention of several other online activists.

In September 2018 Uzbek blogger Davronbek Tojialiyev quietly packed some clothes in a bag and waited for a seemingly imminent arrest, following the detention of several other online activists. But police have never come for him and the bespectacled 34-year-old writes on about sensitive issues in breaks between his work as translator, one of a handful of bloggers breaking long-time taboos by criticising state policies and officials. The detentions in September were an apparent slap on the wrist for those who had, in the authorities' eyes, gone too far. However, it is unlikely to stop people like Davronbek from pushing the boundaries. Publicly criticising the Tashkent government was something unthinkable for its 32 million citizens under Islam Karimov, who had run the mostly Muslim former Soviet republic from 1989 until his death in 2016, brooking no dissent. "During Karimov's time bloggers could write only about small issues, mostly social, it was not possible to talk about serious and political subjects," says Tojialiyev. Karimov's successor, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has proclaimed a new era of openness, moved to curb the powers of the feared security forces, and launched a website through which citizens could raise their grievances. This has helped Tashkent improve its image abroad and start working on attracting badly-needed foreign investment. It also encouraged bloggers to abandon self-censorship and question policies they saw as excessively strict and unnecessary. Success has encouraged bloggers to become more assertive. So when the government published a draft of school uniform regulations in June, some criticised it for disallowing hijabs, headscarves worn by Muslim girls and women. Some online activists, including Tojialiyev, strongly criticised the proposed regulations, demanding that female students be allowed to wear hijabs. Several prominent bloggers attacked the regulations some even called for protests. They were later joined by an imam of one of Tashkent's mosques who urged Mirziyoyev to intervene. The pushback was swift: police arrested several bloggers and the activist imam was dismissed. One of the bloggers, Adham Olimov, told Reuters a court had sentenced him to 15 days of administrative arrest on charges of disobeying police orders - which he denies. But while Tojialiyev's optimism has waned, his determination has not. Tojialiyev says many bloggers have since stopped writing about sensitive issues and friends have asked him to do the same, but he has not experienced any pressure or intimidation from the authorities.

Uzbek bloggers test - and find - limits of newly-found freedom

President of the ex-Soviet Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, six days after he was hospitalised for a suspected brain haemorrhage, officals confirmed on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;He has left us,&quot; Karimov&#39;s younger daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva wrote on Instagram. &quot;God bless him.&quot; 
Karmikov, 78, ruled Uzbekistan as one of the most repressive regimes for 27 years. 
 
He was served as the head of the local Communist Party in 1989 and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. 
 
Karmikov did not designate any political successor. Central Asia analysts have named Mirziyoyev, former regional governor, as a possible heir.&nbsp; 
 
Some senior officials and family members are likely to decide the transition of power. Prolonged lack of a leader could destablise the majority Muslim state that shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants.&nbsp; 
 
If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilise the mainly Muslim state of 32 million people, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. 
 
The authoritarian leader will be buried in his home city of Samarkand on Saturday. Three days of mourning will be observed.&nbsp; 
 
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to acting President Nigmatilla Yuldoshev. The Kremlin quoted Putin as saying his death was a &quot;heavy loss for Uzbekistan&quot;. 
 
(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The authoritarian leader was hospitalised six days ago with a suspected brain haemorrhage

President of the ex-Soviet Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, six days after he was hospitalised for a suspected brain haemorrhage, officals confirmed on Friday. "He has left us," Karimov's younger daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva wrote on Instagram. "God bless him." Karmikov, 78, ruled Uzbekistan as one of the most repressive regimes for 27 years. He was served as the head of the local Communist Party in 1989 and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. Karmikov did not designate any political successor. Central Asia analysts have named Mirziyoyev, former regional governor, as a possible heir. Some senior officials and family members are likely to decide the transition of power. Prolonged lack of a leader could destablise the majority Muslim state that shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, open confrontation could destabilise the mainly Muslim state of 32 million people, which shares a border with Afghanistan and has become a target for Islamist militants. The authoritarian leader will be buried in his home city of Samarkand on Saturday. Three days of mourning will be observed. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences to acting President Nigmatilla Yuldoshev. The Kremlin quoted Putin as saying his death was a "heavy loss for Uzbekistan". (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov dies after 25 years in power

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Uzbek bloggers test - and find - limits of newly-found freedom

Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov dies after 25 years in power