"Currently under discussion" - the return of "spiritual expertise" is a possibility.

On December 24, a press conference was held at the Agency for Information and Mass Communications, featuring the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and its structural divisions. Minister Ozodbek Nazarbekov responded to a question from a Kun.uz correspondent regarding why he, opposing restrictions on creative individuals, agreed to conduct a "spiritual examination."

According to Nazarbekov, in order to gauge public opinion and bring the document to discussion, his consent as minister was required. This is why the draft resolution was published.

"This was an initiative from the Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment. Yes, we published the document, and not without reason. Because half of my mind leans towards the idea that such an examination is necessary, while the other half has doubts. In the sense that half of society demands this, while the other half does not. Therefore, we put it up for discussion. To bring it to discussion, my consent was needed. Without my consent, the document would not have entered the public domain. I agreed to see how society would react.

"Imagine yourself in my position. For instance, on one issue, society has two different opinions. Some say: 'Remove this,' while others say: 'Leave it alone.' So, we must ask: 'Do you agree with this or not?' We needed to take such a step. I won't say this was my specific strategy, but it was important for us to know public opinion," the minister explained.

At the event, the director of the Cinematography Agency, Shukhrat Rizaev, also commented on this topic, emphasizing the necessity of a "spiritual examination" for Uzbekistan.

"The question of such an examination did not arise suddenly. It was conceived after careful consideration and with specific goals, and then brought to discussion. During the discussion stage, thoughts emerged that the document was not yet finalized, that it could be revised, changed, or proposed in another format. These remarks are quite relevant. However, such an examination is necessary for us.

"If we are the descendants of our ancestors, the children of our parents, and the parents and grandparents for future generations, we must take such questions seriously. Series currently have a destructive impact. Of course, life has its complexities, but can we broadcast everything as the norm?" he states.

According to Rizaev, the number of explicit scenes and the use of inappropriate language in films and series has increased, which is gradually becoming the norm. To regulate this area, from 2025, it is planned to coordinate the showing of series with several organizations.

"We have seriously considered this issue, especially regarding series. Our esteemed president has repeatedly raised this topic in meetings. Therefore, starting next year, subsidies allocated for series will be discussed with the participation of the Social Protection Agency, the Center for Spirituality and Enlightenment, mahallas, and state and non-state television companies. Based on their decisions and recommendations, we will determine which series to show.

"If we pursue this path, then, in my opinion, it will be the right thing to do. The establishment of the Social Protection Agency has already become a significant event in our lives. Together with this agency, we aim to achieve greater goals. We hope that the plans we implement next year will have a substantial impact on our worldview and perceptions of series," Rizaev noted.

It should be noted that earlier the decision to conduct a "spiritual examination" of media products was canceled by the Ministry of Justice.

The agency stated that this document had not been registered in the state registry and therefore did not have legal consequences.