Using Tor in Uzbekistan — Bypass Internet Censorship

Uzbekistan's internet is filtered by the state-controlled Uzbektelecom, which manages international internet gateways. Under former President Karimov (who ruled until 2016), Uzbekistan was one of the most censored countries in the world, blocking virtually all independent media and opposition websites. Under President Mirziyoyev, some reforms have occurred — several previously blocked news sites have been unblocked — but significant censorship persists.

Currently blocked content includes opposition political websites, some international human rights organization sites, and content critical of the president and government. The government also blocks some VPN services and has been observed throttling encrypted traffic during politically sensitive periods. Religious content deemed extremist is also heavily filtered.

Uzbekistan's surveillance capabilities include SORM (System of Operative Investigative Activities), the Russian-origin telecommunications monitoring system that gives security services direct access to internet traffic. This system allows real-time monitoring of communications without ISP cooperation. Bloggers and journalists have been imprisoned for online content, though the frequency of such prosecutions has decreased since the Karimov era.

Uzbekistan blocks some Tor relays and may use DPI to identify Tor traffic patterns. Pluggable transports are recommended:

Snowflake: Works well in Uzbekistan and is the recommended primary transport. Uzbekistan's DPI capabilities can detect standard Tor connections but have difficulty identifying Snowflake's WebRTC-based traffic. Enable Snowflake in Tor Browser for reliable connectivity.

obfs4 Bridges: Private obfs4 bridges are effective in Uzbekistan. The country's filtering system focuses on known Tor relay IPs and basic protocol detection, making obfs4's obfuscation sufficient. Request bridges from bridges.torproject.org or via email. Bridges typically remain functional for weeks before needing replacement.

meek-azure: Available as a fallback. Uzbekistan's business sector uses Microsoft cloud services, making meek-azure's CDN-fronting approach difficult to block. Use meek-azure when Snowflake and obfs4 are unavailable, though expect slower speeds due to the additional routing overhead.

Given Uzbekistan's SORM surveillance system, which provides authorities with direct access to internet traffic, using a VPN before Tor is strongly recommended. Without a VPN, SORM can log your connection to Tor relays or bridges, potentially marking you for further surveillance. A VPN encrypts your traffic before it reaches the ISP's SORM equipment, hiding your Tor usage.

Select a VPN provider based outside Central Asia and Russia (which supplied Uzbekistan's SORM technology and may have access to the data it collects). Providers in Europe, Iceland, or Canada are better choices. Ensure the VPN supports obfuscated connections, as standard VPN protocols may be detected and throttled by Uzbektelecom's DPI equipment.

For journalists and human rights workers in Uzbekistan, additional precautions are advisable: use Tails OS for sensitive work, assume your phone is monitored (SORM captures mobile communications as well as internet traffic), and maintain strict separation between your real identity and your online activism. The reform era has reduced but not eliminated the risk of prosecution for online speech.

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