Stories about Uzbekistan from November, 2009
Uzbekistan: Tashkent, a green city. Or not?
Old trees are cut down in the center of Tashkent – the shocking news was spread in the city within a day. Photo by goricvet Planetrees, or platanus, planted at the end of the 19th century, were cut down in the public garden named after Amir Temur (Tamerlane) in Tashkent...
Uzbekistan: Presidential daughter's self-promotion
Musafirbek writes about a charity gala-concert, held with the support of UNICEF, attended not only by singer Cesaria Evora and soccer player Samuel Eto’o, but also by some bloggers, who were hired by an American PR firm to cover the event.
Uzbekistan: Authorities Free Sanjar Umarov
Noah Tucker reports that Sanjar Umarov, one of the most famous political prisoner in Uzbekistan, earlier charged with tax evasion and embezzlement after founding an opposition party in 2005, has been released from prison.
Uzbekistan: Thank you, cotton-growers!
Musafirbek says that the president of Uzbekistan officially thanked the cotton-growers for gathering the harvest of this strategic product for Uzbekistan. However, those who sweat away, collecting this cotton (including children) were not mentioned in the president’s address.
Uzbekistan: EU lifts Uzbek sanctions
Dafydd reports that the EU has lifted the arms embargo on Uzbekistan. Reasons given are abolishment of the death penalty and release of political prisoners.
