how much time needed at airport

To be on the safe side I'd suggest getting to the airport AT LEAST 3 hours before departure, possibly even more if you can manage it. My experience of exiting Tashkent Airport wasn't particularly pleasant although I arrived in plenty of time to allow for inspections/searches/questions etc. I was given the "usual" security checks that everyone must go through but was then taken into a private room for a more "thorough" search both of myself AND my belongings. It was very time-consuming. After finishing that detailed search the security person took my boots away for 20 minutes - I guess to x-ray them etc. If this happens to you, you'll be left with very little time to browse the shops/duty free or to enjoy a relaxing coffee before your flight so best to allow ample time just to avoid being rushed and flustered.

When I left it was completely different. They opened the checkin about 2 hr before the flight. I wasnt checked or searched at any stage..other than the usual at every airport. At every counter I asked if they wanted my OVIR registrations and no one wanted them. Was totally different to what I expected after reading stories like the one above. I was flying to K.L. so I dont know if that made a difference that I wasnt going to another Stan???

dzasta56 - I'm glad your experience was more positive and smoother than mine! I'm not sure whether the level of searches/questioning varies according to destination but I was checking-in for a flight to Moscow at the time. Not sure whether that had anything to do with it, or whether it was just completely random. After boarding the plane I noticed what appeared to be a couple of armed sky marshals/security guards board shortly after all the passengers were seated. Perhaps flights to Moscow are treated as a "riskier" than other destinations, I don't know.