Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA)
The Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA) is the country’s official state news service, headquartered in Tashkent. It plays a central role in shaping the government’s information agenda and in relaying official narratives both domestically and internationally.
Media assets
News agency: UzA
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
UzA is a fully state-owned entity, operating under the direct authority of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan. Senior management is appointed by the government, underscoring the agency’s structural dependence on executive power. This arrangement, confirmed by local journalists and experts interviewed in 2023, 2024 and 2025, leaves little room for institutional autonomy. UzA is headed by Abdusaid (Abdisait) Kuchimov, who serves as its Director General.
Source of funding and budget
The agency is funded entirely from the state budget. According to financial documents obtained by the Media and Journalism Research Center (MJRC), UzA received allocations of UZS 33.7 billion (US$2.7 million) in 2023 and UZS 36.7 billion (US$2.9 million) in 2024. Local experts interviewed in 2023, 2024 and 2025 corroborated that UzA’s operations remain almost wholly reliant on government subsidies, with no meaningful alternative revenue streams.
Editorial independence
Editorially, UzA is tightly controlled by the government. Both local journalists and independent experts, as well as ad hoc content analysis conducted for this report, highlight that the agency’s output is bound by strict editorial directives. Coverage overwhelmingly aligns with official state policy and avoids content critical of government actions or policies.
No domestic statute or independent oversight mechanism safeguarding UzA’s editorial independence has been identified. Consequently, the agency continues to function primarily as a government channel rather than as an autonomous news provider.
August 2025