In the latest "Freedom in the World" report, Uzbekistan scored 12 out of 100 points, the same as the previous year. The evaluation is based on political rights and civil liberties, with Uzbekistan scoring 2 and 10 points respectively.
Among former USSR countries, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan were also rated as not free. Armenia, Moldova, and Ukraine were classified as partially free.
Finland received the highest score of 100 points, followed closely by New Zealand and Sweden with 99 points each.
The lowest scores were given to Tibet (0 points), Syria, and South Sudan (1 point). Freedom House noted a global decline in freedom levels for the 18th consecutive year, with improvements seen in only 21 out of 52 countries.
Experts highlighted election manipulation as a key factor in undermining freedom, along with armed conflicts over disputed territories. The report warns of significant challenges in 2024 due to upcoming elections in many countries and ongoing conflicts in Myanmar, Sudan, Ukraine, and elsewhere.
Continued attacks on pluralism may lead to voter apathy, further division, and even violence, undermining the promise of democracy. Failure to address these challenges could result in more people being denied fundamental freedoms in 2025, according to the report compilers.
