On October 24, 2021, presidential elections will be held in Uzbekistan.  In accordance with national legislation, there is no institution of self-nominated candidates in the country. Five candidates are participating in the presidential race: Alisher Kadyrov ("Milliy Tiklanish" or The Uzbekistan "National Revival" Democratic Party), Narzullo Oblomurodov (Ecological Party), Maksuda Vorisova (People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan), Bakhrom Abdukhalimov (Social-Democratic party "Adolat"), Shavkat Mirziyoyev (The Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party, or "UzLiDeP"). However, despite the fact that the presidential campaign is going on rather dynamically, the data from sociological surveys shows that the majority of the population supports  the current President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. What is the reason for such a high credit of trust, and how much does it correspond to the political realities of the current so-called "Open Uzbekistan"?
   Independent democratic NGOs note that during his 5 years as president of the republic, Shavkat Mirziyoyev has deployed the authoritarian, clumsy political system of a typical eastern country. His goals are reforms aimed primarily at improving the standard of living of the ordinary population. As a result,  Mirziyoyev managed to raise the real incomes of the population by almost a third, he also increased the employment and reduced the migration outflow of the population.  The forced labor of state employees and students, wild by the standards of a modern democratic society, is in the past. Another measure, that has been introduced was tight control over the activities of law enforcement agencies and, as a result, the level of corruption has significantly decreased. The significance and weight of human rights institutions has increased, so the "Thaw" has come.
   Previously, Uzbekistan was considered as one of the most closed countries in the region. The reforms within the country served as a signal for foreign capital, which has ceased to be afraid to invest in the economy. Nowadays according to the Fitch agency’s report,  in 2021 the economy of Uzbekistan is reaching 6.2% growth, and with a high degree of probability it will maintain positive dynamics, at least until 2023 at the level of 5.7% per year.
   This is also why the European Union began to see Uzbekistan as a reliable business partner and intensified the negotiations on the draft Agreement on Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation, which will help in attracting European investments and experience in various spheres of Tashkent's economic activities. Very important for the national economy is the signing of an agreement with Rosatom on the construction of a nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region, which will provide the republic's industry with cheap electricity, which, in turn, will increase the added value of industries supported by European investors. For the first time in several decades, Uzbekistan has begun to pursue a pragmatic policy based primarily on national interests. Perhaps, this is precisely why people of Uzbekistan trust Shavkat Mirziyoyev. And whether it will be extended for another 5 years, we will see on October 24.