Uzbek Opposition Party Tests Limits of Political Reform

TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN - Khidirnazar Allakulov, 65, is a man with a mission: He aims to change the Uzbek political landscape with his new movement called the "Truth and Development" Social Democratic Party.   

But before Allakulov and his party can begin to reform a system he says is "evil" and "does not value its citizens and does not serve them in any way," he's going to have to get his party recognized.     "Truth and Development" proclaimed itself a party on March 8, 2021, and applied to be registered on April 7 with about 20,000 signatures from its supporters. The Justice Ministry has a month to consider and respond.    Campaigning for Uzbekistan's October 24, 2021, presidential election starts in July. Allakulov could be his party's candidate — if it actually gets on the ballot. "I'm not against the current constitutional system or aim to overthrow it," he said. "But I'm against the current leadership and oppose the way Uzbekistan is run now."