Editor’s Note
This alert, originally issued on September 16, 2025, was republished on September 24, 2025, to remind French nationals abroad to maintain heightened vigilance following the activation of the ‘Emergency Attack’ level of the Vigipirate plan.
For your safety, register on Ariane. Ensure you have adequate insurance.
Publication Date: September 24, 2025
For your safety, register on Ariane. Ensure you have adequate insurance.
Seismic Risk: Uzbekistan is located in a high seismic risk zone. In 1966, the city of Tashkent, largely built with adobe, was almost entirely destroyed by an earthquake. In 2011, a tremor in the Ferghana Valley caused several casualties.
It is advisable to follow basic safety recommendations. A fact sheet on seismic risk can also be consulted on the website of the French Embassy in Tashkent.
In all cases, it is important to remain calm and follow the instructions of local authorities. Any major earthquake is followed by a series of aftershocks.
Terrorist Risk: Due to persistent tensions and instability in the region, the terrorist threat cannot be ruled out. It is recommended to follow the news during your travel and exercise vigilance during your stay in the country. At borders, it is advisable not to venture outside official border crossing points.
Presence of Mines: The presence of mines has been reported in mountainous areas along the borders with Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. In border areas, it is therefore strongly advised not to travel outside towns or to leave main roads and marked trails.
Transportation Risks: Road accidents are numerous, especially at night, and sometimes fatal. They are due to driver recklessness or unfavorable traffic conditions. It is recommended not to drive at night due to the presence of various unlit obstacles (pedestrians, cyclists, frequent livestock crossings, vehicles stopped on the road with all lights off, etc.).
Crime: The level of insecurity is low in Uzbekistan. However, foreign travelers and tourists can attract envy, and some cases of violent assaults on foreigners at night have been reported. It is recommended not to show ostentatious signs of wealth, to leave valuables in a secure place (e.g., hotel safe), and to watch personal belongings. Cases of pickpocketing have been reported, particularly on public transport.
It is also advisable not to walk at night, especially alone, and to favor licensed taxis. This recommendation applies particularly to Tashkent and other urban centers in the country.
Security is sometimes less assured in remote regions of the country, where the passage of foreigners is unusual. It is advised to remain vigilant in nightlife venues and not to trust individuals who may propose meetings or lead foreigners to excessive drinking.
Areas Formally Discouraged:
The border area with Afghanistan can be the scene of tensions and unexpected incidents that can turn into clashes. The only crossing point to Afghanistan is the Friendship Bridge between Termez and Hairatan. The border is closed to foreigners and strictly guarded by Uzbek authorities. It is prohibited and dangerous to approach it.
The border strip between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan is heavily controlled. Few security incidents have been reported in recent months. However, the situation remains unstable, as illustrated by the two rocket attacks carried out against Uzbek territory from Afghan territory during 2022. Travel in this area is discouraged (including within the city of Termez, except for imperative reasons).
Travel to Afghanistan, a country marked in red on the security map, is formally discouraged.
Except at the border posts listed on the Customs Committee website, it is dangerous to approach the Tajik and Kyrgyz borders due to the potential presence of mines.
Areas Under Enhanced Vigilance: (No specific details provided in the extracted content).
