Eurasianet

All the defendants are strident government critics, but their dissidence was confined to online attacks and tiny street protests.

Bunin has also been banned from entering Uzbekistan.

Vaccine hesitancy in Uzbekistan is high, bred by social media conspiracies that seem credible in a country without accountable authorities.

Restrictions on movement do not appear intended to stem the spread of COVID-19.

No real opposition parties were permitted to run.