Western media have historically neglected Central Asia as a region, and it is even hard to find information on female political leaders. Many Central Asian countries still ban women from joining certain professions and have discriminatory laws that prevent women from inheriting money or property. Notably, Uzbekistan’s percentage of female parliamentary representatives is particularly high relative to other Central Asian countries: 38 percent. It is important for the United States, European Union, and other countries to forge meaningful partnerships with Central Asian governments to promote women’s empowerment through international initiatives. However, as discussed in this article, many female Central Asian leaders maintain close ties to Russia, evidencing the fact that increasing female representation has limited democratic effects when situated within autocratic power structures.