Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan may become a new transit hub for Russian tourists instead of Istanbul, Consul General of Uzbekistan in Yekaterinburg Abdusalom Khatamov said. 

Sputnik reported that he also noted that direct flights from Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Tyumen to Bukhara, Navoi, Samarkand, Tashkent and Namangan are now open.

In addition, the authorities intend to provide direct flights between Nijnevartovsk and Fergana.