Ortiqkhujaev contrasts today's business climate with past raids and fear

Jahongir Ortiqkhujaev, a businessman, drew a stark contrast between the current business environment and a past characterized by raids and apprehension, speaking at an August 18 meeting with the president. He noted that Uzbek businesses previously channeled their energy into survival rather than expansion, due to fear of inspections and law enforcement actions.

Ortiqkhujaev recounted a time when, as aired by Uzbekistan 24, "There was a time when, hearts pounding with fear, we weren't thinking about growing our businesses — we were thinking about how to survive at all, Mr. President. Those difficult years, the so-called 'masks shows,' wore us down so much that the very word 'doing business' triggered anxiety." He used the term "masks shows," commonly understood in the region to refer to raids conducted by masked security personnel.

He elaborated on the constant pressure businesses endured during that era. "A businessman who built something through honest work lived in constant fear, as if he were a criminal. The businesses sitting here today, whose hair has gone gray, remember all too well how much hardship was inflicted on people simply for running a business," Ortiqkhujaev stated.

In contrast, Artykhodjaev painted a much more positive picture of the present business climate. "Young businesses today are living, in a sense, in paradise. They should appreciate that. Businesses today can operate freely, without fear or anxiety, because we have a mountain of support standing behind us — our president," he affirmed.

He also mentioned that business owners from neighboring countries and beyond, with whom he regularly communicates, have commended Uzbekistan's direct dialogue approach between the president and the business community.

The term "Maski-show," literally meaning "Masks Show," is a colloquialism for a sudden, aggressive raid by armed security forces, special forces, or police wearing masks (balaclavas) and body armor. In economic and legal contexts, it has come to symbolize heavy-handed state intervention in businesses, including illegal audits, property confiscations, and hostile corporate takeovers.

Prior to the mid-2010s, businesses in Uzbekistan frequently operated under a cloud of fear. Business owners have reported that law enforcement inspections and sudden "mask show" raids debilitated the business environment, deterring many from expanding or leading to the complete loss of assets through unsubstantiated criminal charges.

Since Shavkat Mirziyoyev assumed the presidency, a stated government priority has been to curb unlawful interference by security agencies in the economy. Uzbekistan has openly acknowledged that such raids were used to seize businesses from their owners and has implemented a series of legislative restrictions and moratoriums on inspections of business entities.