Uzbekistan Identifies More Than 49,000 Extremist and Terrorist Online Resources
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan identified more than 49,000 online resources of an extremist or terrorist nature in 2026, a 14% increase from the previous year. Bahodir Kurbanov, head of the State Security Service, announced the figures, warning that digital platforms are increasingly being used to spread radical ideology.
Colonel General Kurbanov made the statement on November 6 in Samarkand at the first expert “SCO Plus Dialogue on Security Issues”. In his opening remarks, he said terrorist and extremist organizations were actively exploiting digital technologies in their operations.
According to Kurbanov, the internet is used to spread propaganda, recruit supporters, raise funds, prepare terrorist attacks and carry them out. Around 43,000 resources of this kind were identified in Uzbekistan in 2025. The latest figure therefore represents an increase of more than 6,000 in a year.
The security chief also outlined work carried out under the National Strategy for Countering Extremism and Terrorism for 2021–2026. He said the strategy had helped improve mechanisms for cooperation between government agencies and international partners. Uzbekistan’s efforts, he added, were reflected in international rankings.
In the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Uzbekistan ranked 96th. Kurbanov described the result as an indication of the country’s low level of exposure to terrorism and the effectiveness of its national approach to countering the threat.
He also highlighted key priorities for security in the era of digital transformation. These include identifying new forms and methods of terrorist activity in the digital environment and preventing the use of artificial intelligence for terrorist purposes.
Concluding his remarks, Kurbanov stressed the importance of the expert dialogue. Participants are expected to discuss current security challenges and threats and develop coordinated measures to strengthen cooperation at the international and regional levels. It remains a shared concern.
According to Kurbanov, the internet is used to spread propaganda, recruit supporters, raise funds, prepare terrorist attacks and carry them out. Around 43,000 resources of this kind were identified in Uzbekistan in 2025. The latest figure therefore represents an increase of more than 6,000 in a year.
The security chief also outlined work carried out under the National Strategy for Countering Extremism and Terrorism for 2021–2026. He said the strategy had helped improve mechanisms for cooperation between government agencies and international partners. Uzbekistan’s efforts, he added, were reflected in international rankings.
In the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Uzbekistan ranked 96th. Kurbanov described the result as an indication of the country’s low level of exposure to terrorism and the effectiveness of its national approach to countering the threat.
He also highlighted key priorities for security in the era of digital transformation. These include identifying new forms and methods of terrorist activity in the digital environment and preventing the use of artificial intelligence for terrorist purposes.
Concluding his remarks, Kurbanov stressed the importance of the expert dialogue. Participants are expected to discuss current security challenges and threats and develop coordinated measures to strengthen cooperation at the international and regional levels. It remains a shared concern.
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