Stories about Uzbekistan from November, 2007
Uzbekistan: Stop Deportation of Asylum Seeker!
“Until this day I believed in freedom of media and its role in civil liberties in this country [Great Britain]. But information I have read today slightly changed my mind”, Craig Murray says. Such was a reaction of bloggers all over the world to the decision of the British court...
Uzbekistan: Compulsory Cotton-Picking
Bordersca reviews two articles on the topic of still existing practice of compulsory cotton-picking in Uzbekistan, in which practically all population is involved by the state.
Uzbekistan: Harrassing Journalists
Joshua Foust calls not to forget the journalists who have given their lives in the pursuit of truth, taking Uzbekistan as an example, although he notes that journalists are not being killed there as often as in, say, Russia.
Russia: Election “Without a Choice”
Mark MacKinnon writes about one of the creators of Russia's “managed democracy” system and the lessons drawn by Putin from the Orange Revolution in Ukraine and the Rose Revolution in Georgia: “Who cares what the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe election monitors have to say? They're all tools...
Uzbekistan: Amir Temur's Cult Cultivated
Michael Hancock reviews the book “Amir Temur in World History”, published in Uzbekistan in 1996. Mistifications substitute the real historical facts in this book, he says, and does not recommend to buy it – except as an oddity.
Uzbekistan: Resurgence of Hizb-Ut-Tahrir Islamist Movement
Libertad writes about the rise of Islam in Uzbekistan after the collapse of communism and about Hizb-ut-Tahrir, an Islamic political movement, which is involving more women to its activities.
Uzbekistan: Islamism on the Rise
Joshua Foust opines that despite governmental crackdown on the religion-based political movements in the Ferghana Valley (which is shared by Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan), Islamism i- particularly Izb-ut-Tahrir semi-sect movement – still gaining market share. This situation requires a different approach of the Uzbek and Kyrgyz authorities in dealing with religious...
Uzbekistan: Presidential Candidates List Gets Shorter
Libertad observes that the circle of candidates for presidency is becoming narrower from day to day. Two out of six candidates are already out of the process.
Uzbekistan: U.S. Rapprochement with Tashkent
Ian is also worried by the slight diplomatic reverence, paid by the U.S. ambassador in Tashkent to the Uzbekistan's authorities. “It simply isn’t clear to me why the US should be interested in earning back Karimov’s love”, he says.
Uzbekistan: Diplomats Reach Out to Tashkent
Joshua Foust opines on the news article, in which it was said about a meeting of the new U.S. ambassador to Uzbekistan with the governmental official in Tashkent.
Uzbekistan: Russian Tycoon for the President?
Libertad provokes a discussion on whether it would be good for his country to have Alisher Usmanov, an ethnic Uzbek, a ferrous metal, a mining tycoon and Russia’s 18th richest man, on the presidential post of Uzbeksitan.
Uzbekistan: A Great Loss for the Nation
A great loss for the whole nation: such was the reaction of Central Asian – especially Uzbek – blogosphere to the assassination of Alisher Saipov, a prominent journalist from Osh, southern city in Kyrgyzstan that borders with Uzbekistan. As he was an ethnic Uzbek and lived in a border area,...
Uzbekistan: Signs of Campaign
Bboyd opines on the news coming from Uzbekistan concerning the upcoming no-choice presidential elections, in which the incumbent, President Karimov, is running for an unconstitutional third term.
Uzbekistan: Working in NGOs and GOs
Bordersca reflects on the state of NGO business in Uzbekistan in comparison with the work in governmental organizations, and notes that the level of technical equipment is much worse in the state bodies.
Uzbekistan: Bread, Elections and Instability
Bboyd reviews the three top news for Uzbekistan – problems with supply of bread products, upcoming presidential elections and samely bad situation with human rights despite West's sanctions – and notes that all these developments casts doubt on stability of the region.
Uzbekistan: Rethinking Andijan Again
Central Asian Borders reflects on the Western studies about the tragic massacre in the Uzbek city of Andijan, saying that in Uzbekistan, many people don’t know what the Westerners know about Andijan.
Uzbekistan: Update on the Murder of Alisher Saipov
Libertad comments on the report of Kyrgyz law enforcement bodies on the assasination of Alisher Saipov, a highly critical Uzbek journalist, who was shot to death in Osh, Kyrgyzstan. Police accuses Hizb-ut-Tahrir in murder, while journalists believe that Uzbek secret services killed their colleague.
Uzbekistan: Outdated Agriculture
Joshua Foust reports that Uzbekistan’s embassy in London has angrily denounced the stories that children are being used (or forced) to pick cotton, and says that the legacy of authoritarianism – inefficiency, environmental disaster, and the abuse of the innocent – seriously hampers the country's development.
Uzbekistan: Official Warns Against “Interference”
Bboyd reports that Uzbekistan’s Permanent Representative Mr. Alisher Vakhidov warned the international community not to interfere in Uzbekistani affairs under the “pretext” of human rights concerns.
