Partial democratisation and an easing of government controls in Uzbekistan have led to emergence of new forms of protest in the country's capital. The kind of street art that is a familiar scene in large US and European cities is still a novelty in Tashkent where each overnight spraying triggers a response from authorities and fierce debates in social networking groups. Energy prices are the most popular topic of debate. With market reforms gradually reducing state regulation from the oil and gas sector, Uzbekistan residents remain unhappy with the continued rise in the price of fuels, natural gas and electricity. Gasoline prices in Tashkent have recently increased by over 70%, prompting local graffiti artist Inkuzart to express this public outcry with an urban art masterpiece spotted on a wall in the Uchtepinsky district in the capital.
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