THE CURRENT STATE OF THE RUSSIAN LANGUAGE IN UZBEKISTAN AND ITS INTEGRATIVE CULTURAL ROLE

This scholarly article is devoted to defining the role of the Russian language in the development of intercultural dialogue in the multinational society of Uzbekistan. It is shown that, while preserving its integrating function (a "bridge"), the Russian language is adapting to current challenges of the time, including digital transformation, youth cultural trends, and the expansion of international contacts. As a key conclusion, the necessity of finding a balance between strengthening national-cultural identity and using the Russian language as a strategic resource for further development is substantiated.