The move was widely seen as consolidating Karimov s control and discouraging potential rivals. Meanwhile, the Uzbek economy continued to slump. As of November 1998, trade volume had dropped by 28 percent, privatization has lagged, and the value of the national currency, the som, was low. Political Rights and Civil Liberties Uzbekistan is de facto a one-party state dominated by the former Communists, who have put severe restrictions on opposition political activity. The 1994 parliamentary elections were not free and fair, with only progovernment parties taking part.
Most media remains controlled by the government.
A new media law signed in December 1997 purports to facilitate press freedom, but censorship and other pressures remain. In June, Samarkand regional radio journalist Shadi Mardiev was sentenced to 11 years in prison for defamation and extortion stemming from a satirical broadcast involving a prominent businessman. The Supreme Court upheld the sentence in August. In August, two Russian journalists were assaulted after a meeting with Marat Zakhidov, a well-known Uzbek human rights activist. The attack was believed to be connected to the journalists visit to the Fergana Valley to collect information of religious repression.