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Uzbekistan in a brief

The length of Uzbekistan’s borders stretch for over 5,300 km. It has a population of 23 million that grows at a rate of 2.5% annually, according to the State Statistical committee. Uzbekistan has an incredibly high level of literacy, reaching 97.2% and a strong economic potential. Its most economically developed regions are the cities of Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara, as well as the valleys of Ferghana and Amu Darya.

Uzbekistan’s independence after the disintegration of the USSR brought both economic transformations and an authoritarian government. Within the country, there is a growing sense of nationalism, but the intolerance and fear of the government towards Islam has also stimulated the growth of Islamic fundamentalism.

Uzbekistan’s central location has meant that it is an actor in most affairs in Central Asia. However, unlike some countries such as Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, who share borders with other international actors, Uzbekistan is secluded, sheltering it from outside pressures and threats. This lack of external pressure combined with tight domestic control makes Uzbekistan among the most stable countries in Central Asia. However, the price of stability is oftentimes too high. The government’s transition toward a more democratic state has been significantly slower than other CIS countries, with the possible exclusion of Turkmenistan.

Uzbekistan’s government

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov.

Born 30 January, 1938 in Samarkand
Married to Tatyana Akbarovna; two daughters

1960- Graduated from Central Asian Polytechnic Institute
1967- Doctor of Economic Studies, Tashkent Institute of National Economy
1985-86- Minister of Finance, Uzbek SSR
1986-91 Full member of the Central Committee of the Uzbek Communist Party, Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Chairman of the Central Committee
1990-91 President of the Uzbek SSR, full member of the Politburo, Central Committee, Communist Party of the Soviet Union
1991- President, Republic of Uzbekistan

Once elected as the President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov adopted a rather authoritarian approach to deal with political and economic instability.

“ A strong executive power is necessary to prevent bloodshed and confrontation and preserve interethnic and civic calm, peace, and stability in the region, for which I am prepared to pay any price, however high. If you like, this is necessary for movement towards democracy.”

President Karimov has become the driving force of political transformations in Uzbekistan. Karimov is both the President of the country and the Head of the Council of Ministers. His portraits are abundant in public places, libraries and schools, his quotations appear on large billboards around the country, his speeches are printed as books. His latest book “ Uzbekistan on the Threshold of the Twenty-First Century”, published in foreign languages, strives to depict Karimov as a great thinker and leader. Karimov, an authoritarian leader, has secured power through harsh elimination of the opposition and formation of various coalitions.

The executive board:

Chief of state: President Islam KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)

Head of government: Prime Minister Shavkat MIRZIYAYEV (since 11 December 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term (previously was a five-year term, extended by constitutional amendment in 2002); election last held 9 January 2000 (next to be held December 2007); prime minister and deputy ministers appointed by the president

election results: Islam KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islam KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz JALALOV 4.2%