President Karimov with Russian president Putin
The country only gained its independence in 1991 with the dissolution of the USSR. It has been facing its own social, religious and demographic problems since then.
A surprising visit
Uzbek president Islam Karimov – who reigns authoritatively over the country since 1990 – officially visited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in early April, in Moscow, to require his help against “rampant expansion of terrorism”. This visit was unexpected, because Karimov was said to have health problems. The threat of terrorism is overwhelming this region which is “fed with extremist foolishness”. Surrounded by Chechnya nearby, Iran even closer and Afghanistan as a neighbor, Uzbekistan actually has real preoccupations to worry about. Moreover, it seems that the despot of Tashkent is also trying to avoid any disorder that could echo to Arab springs.
Thus Uzbekistan is suffering disturbances due to national terrorists and religious threats: suspected members of the Uzbek Islamist Movement and of the Islamic Jihad Union are frequently arrested and condemned on the Uzbek territory. The country also has other regional concerns: drug trade (mainly coming from Afghanistan) that benefits to corruption in each State level, from socio-demographic preoccupations (60% of the population is under thirty) to problems in the insertion of ethnic minorities.
Karimov tries by any means at his disposal to stop the rise of extremism which is maintained by drug trade and the social ill of some minorities, just like using exacerbated censorship of local journalists. Those who investigate are frequently jailed or sent to psychiatric hospitals. Foreign journalists are sent back home, external communications are widely reduced, and phone cards are used as control devices… As many methods used by the Uzbek dictator.
However, the country is now isolated in its quest for allies against the terrorist threat: its relations towards occidental countries are widely compromised by this disrespect of Human Rights. Its relation to Russia is also
far from being ideal. Uzbekistan does not agree with the implementation of Russian military bases in Tajikistan and Kirghizstan, with which Tashkent capital is not really in good terms. As to Russia, it does not approve the military partnership between Uzbekistan and the United States of America such as the increasing Uzbek commitment to NATO.The economy still has the upper hand. Putin and Karimov are pleased with a 20% increase in turnover from trade between their two countries within a year: a way for Russia to complete its economic domination on Uzbekistan, which joined the free trade area of the Independent States Community (ISC) last 31st of May.
Thus Uzbekistan is suffering disturbances due to national terrorists and religious threats: suspected members of the Uzbek Islamist Movement and of the Islamic Jihad Union are frequently arrested and condemned on the Uzbek territory. The country also has other regional concerns: drug trade (mainly coming from Afghanistan) that benefits to corruption in each State level, from socio-demographic preoccupations (60% of the population is under thirty) to problems in the insertion of ethnic minorities.
Karimov tries by any means at his disposal to stop the rise of extremism which is maintained by drug trade and the social ill of some minorities, just like using exacerbated censorship of local journalists. Those who investigate are frequently jailed or sent to psychiatric hospitals. Foreign journalists are sent back home, external communications are widely reduced, and phone cards are used as control devices… As many methods used by the Uzbek dictator.
However, the country is now isolated in its quest for allies against the terrorist threat: its relations towards occidental countries are widely compromised by this disrespect of Human Rights. Its relation to Russia is also
far from being ideal. Uzbekistan does not agree with the implementation of Russian military bases in Tajikistan and Kirghizstan, with which Tashkent capital is not really in good terms. As to Russia, it does not approve the military partnership between Uzbekistan and the United States of America such as the increasing Uzbek commitment to NATO.The economy still has the upper hand. Putin and Karimov are pleased with a 20% increase in turnover from trade between their two countries within a year: a way for Russia to complete its economic domination on Uzbekistan, which joined the free trade area of the Independent States Community (ISC) last 31st of May.
Russian-Uzbek agreements
The economy still has the upper hand. Putin and Karimov are pleased with a 20% increase in turnover from trade between their two countries within a year: a way for Russia to complete its economic domination on Uzbekistan, which joined the free trade area of the Independent States Community (ISC) last 31st of May.
The two countries have an interest in allying with each other for common interests: raise in joint ventures, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation programs… And fight against terrorism. Moscow and Tashkent agree, in particular, on helping Afghanistan in 2014, following the occidental troops’ withdrawal. The future of Central Asia depends on the cooperation between every country of the region, which is the only way to escape from religious extremism.
During Karimov’s visit in Moscow early April, the two Heads of State reached an agreement to tighten their relationship, particularly on the parts concerning the fight against terrorism and the economy. It is to be hoped that the cooperation on security will go in a positive way and that Central Asian countries would be able to fight the plague of religious extremism.
The two countries have an interest in allying with each other for common interests: raise in joint ventures, cultural, scientific and technical cooperation programs… And fight against terrorism. Moscow and Tashkent agree, in particular, on helping Afghanistan in 2014, following the occidental troops’ withdrawal. The future of Central Asia depends on the cooperation between every country of the region, which is the only way to escape from religious extremism.
During Karimov’s visit in Moscow early April, the two Heads of State reached an agreement to tighten their relationship, particularly on the parts concerning the fight against terrorism and the economy. It is to be hoped that the cooperation on security will go in a positive way and that Central Asian countries would be able to fight the plague of religious extremism.
