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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Uzbekistan
Index
The movement toward economic reform in Uzbekistan has not been matched
by movement toward democratic reform. The government of Uzbekistan has
instead tightened its grip since independence, cracking down increasingly
on opposition groups, curbing basic human rights, and making little
attempt to develop democratic political norms and practices. Although the
names have changed, the institutions of government remain similar to those
that existed before the breakup of the Soviet Union. The government has
justified its restraint of personal liberty and freedom of speech by
emphasizing the need for stability and a gradual approach to change during
the transitional period, citing the conflict and chaos in the other former
republics (most convincingly, neighboring Tajikistan). This approach has
found credence among a large share of Uzbekistan's population, although
such a position may not be sustainable in the long run.
Data as of March 1996
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