Mirziyoyev's Decade: Rebuilding Public Trust Through Direct Dialogue

September 6, 2026 at 08:00 AM2 min

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Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office as acting president on September 8, 2016, and won the December 4 election with 88.61 percent of the vote. His first steps included regional visits and direct meetings with citizens, which shaped the 2017-2021 Action Strategy. The strategy marked a shift toward public participation in state decision-making.

Key Facts

Shavkat Mirziyoyev was appointed acting president of Uzbekistan on September 8, 2016.
He won the presidential election on December 4, 2016, with 88.61 percent of the vote.
The 2017–2021 Action Strategy on five priority development areas was developed under Mirziyoyev's leadership.
2017 was declared the Year of Dialogue with the People and Human Interests.
The Presidential Virtual Reception and People's Reception Offices were established to handle citizen appeals.

Election and Early Actions

Shavkat Mirziyoyev was appointed acting president on September 8, 2016, and officially took office on December 14 after winning the December 4 election with 88.61 percent of the vote. Immediately after his appointment, Mirziyoyev began visiting regions and meeting directly with ordinary citizens and professionals. These meetings allowed him to assess local achievements, shortcomings, and existing problems firsthand. During the election campaign, he presented a new people-oriented program to voters.

Action Strategy and Public Participation

Based on proposals from citizens during meetings, the 2017–2021 Action Strategy on five priority development areas was developed under Mirziyoyev's leadership. The strategy included the 2017 State Program for the Year of Dialogue with the People and Human Interests. Citizens became co-authors of the Action Strategy and the 2017 State Program, directly participating in their creation. This was a major novelty for a population accustomed to state decisions being made without public involvement.

Restoring Public Trust

Restoring public trust in the state, lost before 2016, was identified as a critical task. The idea 'Everything for the people, for their dignity' was set as the main criterion of state policy in New Uzbekistan. The Presidential Virtual Reception and People's Reception Offices were established to enable direct communication between citizens and the state. This system sharply increased public trust by quickly resolving problems that had accumulated over years.