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Uzbekistan: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
In the first millennium B.C., Iranian nomads established irrigation systems along the rivers of Central Asia and built towns at Bukhoro and Samarqand. These places became extremely wealthy points of transit on what became known as the Silk Road between China and Europe. In the seventh century A.D., the Soghdian Iranians, who profited most visibly from this trade, saw their province of Mawarannahr overwhelmed by Arabs, who spread Islam throughout the region. Under the Arab Abbasid Caliphate, the eighth and ninth centuries were a golden age of learning and culture in Mawarannahr. As Turks began entering the region from the north, they established new states. After a succession of states dominated the region, in the twelfth century Mawarannahr was united in a single state with Iran and the region of Khorazm, south of the Aral Sea. In the early thirteenth century, that state then was invaded by Mongols led by Genghis Khan, under whose successors Turkish replaced Iranian as the dominant culture of the region. Under Timur (Tamerlane), the last great Mongolian nomadic leader (ruled 1370–1405), Mawarannahr began its last cultural flowering, centered in Samarqand. After Timur the state began to split, and by 1510 Uzbek tribes had conquered all of Central Asia.
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In the sixteenth century, the Uzbeks established two strong rival khanates, Bukhoro and Khorazm. In this period, the Silk Road cities began to decline as ocean trade flourished. The khanates were isolated by wars with Iran and weakened by attacks from northern nomads. In the early nineteenth century, three Uzbek khanates—Bukhoro, Khiva, and Quqon (Kokand)—had a brief period of recovery. However, in the mid-nineteenth century Russia, attracted to the region’s commercial potential and especially to its cotton, began the full military conquest of Central Asia. By 1876 Russia had incorporated all three khanates (hence all of present-day Uzbekistan) into its empire, granting the khanates limited autonomy. In the second half of the nineteenth century, the Russian population of Uzbekistan grew and some industrialization occurred.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, the Jadadist movement of educated Central Asians, centered in present-day Uzbekistan, began to advocate overthrowing Russian rule. In 1916 violent opposition broke out in Uzbekistan and elsewhere, in response to the conscription of Central Asians into the Russian army fighting World War I. When the tsar was overthrown in 1917, Jadadists established a short-lived autonomous state at Quqon. After the Bolshevik Party gained power in Moscow, the Jadadists split between supporters of Russian communism and supporters of a widespread uprising that became known as the Basmachi Rebellion. As that revolt was being crushed in the early 1920s, local communist leaders such as Faizulla Khojayev gained power in Uzbekistan. In 1924 the Soviet Union established the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic, which included present-day Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan became a separate republic in 1929. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, large-scale agricultural collectivization resulted in widespread famine in Central Asia. In the late 1930s, Khojayev and the entire leadership of the Uzbek Republic were purged and executed by Soviet leader Joseph V. Stalin (in power 1927–53) and replaced by Russian officials. The Russification of political and economic life in Uzbekistan that began in the 1930s continued through the 1970s. During World War II, Stalin exiled entire national groups from the Caucasus and the Crimea to Uzbekistan to prevent “subversive” activity against the war effort.
Moscow’s control over Uzbekistan weakened in the 1970s as Uzbek party leader Sharaf Rashidov brought many cronies and relatives into positions of power. In the mid-1980s, Moscow attempted to regain control by purging the entire Uzbek party leadership. However, this move increased Uzbek nationalism, which had long resented Soviet policies such as the imposition of cotton monoculture and the suppression of Islamic traditions. In the late 1980s, the liberalized atmosphere of the Soviet Union under Mikhail S. Gorbachev (in power 1985–91) fostered political opposition groups and open (albeit limited) opposition to Soviet policy in Uzbekistan. In 1989 a series of violent ethnic clashes involving Uzbeks brought the appointment of ethnic Uzbek outsider Islam Karimov as Communist Party chief. When the Supreme Soviet of Uzbekistan reluctantly approved independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, Karimov became president of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In 1992 Uzbekistan adopted a new constitution, but the main opposition party, Birlik, was banned, and a pattern of media suppression began. In 1995 a national referendum extended Karimov’s term of office from 1997 to 2000. A series of violent incidents in eastern Uzbekistan in 1998 and 1999 intensified government activity against Islamic extremist groups, other forms of opposition, and minorities. In 2000 Karimov was reelected overwhelmingly in an election whose procedures received international criticism. Later that year, Uzbekistan began laying mines along the Tajikistan border, creating a serious new regional issue and intensifying Uzbekistan’s image as a regional hegemon. Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Uzbekistan provided logistical support to the U.S. antiterrorist campaign in Afghanistan. This move continued a rapprochement that began in the late 1990s. However, in 2004 the United States cut non-humanitarian aid to Uzbekistan, citing recurrent human rights violations. In mid-2005 brutal suppression of riots in Andijon brought severe criticism from the United States and the European Union (EU). Under pressure from the Karimov regime, the United States vacated its air base at Khanabad, and sanctions by the EU and the United States followed. In the same period, a bilateral treaty substantially enhanced relations between Russia and Uzbekistan.
Reuters AlertNet,TASHKENT, Oct 24 (Reuters) - A European Union delegation was in Uzbekistan on Tuesday on a rare, discreet visit, diplomats said, just weeks after the EU hinted ... Russian CEC delegation starts visit to Uzbekistan - 24 Oct 2006 UzReport.com,A delegation of Central Election Commission (CEC) of Russia led by its chairman Alexander Veshnyakov started visit to Uzbekistan on 24 October to exchange ... Amnesty International warns Uzbek ordered to be deported from ... - 24 Oct 2006 International Herald Tribune,AP. MOSCOW An Uzbek man could be tortured or even sentenced to death if Russia complies with a request to deport him back to Uzbekistan, a London-based human ... A look at US deaths in Afghan fighting - Oct 23, 2006 Jordan Falls News,14, 2006, at least 280 members of the US military have died in Afghanistan , Pakistan and Uzbekistan as a result of the US invasion of Afghanistan in late 2001 ... AN-2 Crash In Uzbekistan Kills 15 - Oct 20, 2006 Aero-News Network,An Uzbekistan Airways Antonov AN-2 single-engine biplane with 13 Uzbek military personnel and two pilots aboard crashed early Thursday. ... NEC Completes Telecom & Broadcasting Project in Uzbekistan - Oct 22, 2006 IT News Online,...a telecommunications and broadcasting yen-loan-financing project to improve and expand the countrywide telecommunications and broadcasting network in Uzbekistan ... Iran participates in Uzbekistan Int'l Agricultural Mini Technology ... - Oct 21, 2006 Islamic Republic News Agency,The Iranian pavilion is showing biscuit, cake and bread packaging machines in the 20-day fair in Uzbekistan. Yousef Yousefi Khosrowshahi ... Uzbekistan raises gas prices - Oct 17, 2006 RIA Novosti,MOSCOW. (Dr. Igor Tomberg for RIA Novosti) - Following Turkmenistan's example, Uzbekistan will raise the price of exported gas to $100 per 1,000 cubic meters ... Iran & Uzbekistan discuss areas of cooperation - Oct 20, 2006 IranMania News,LONDON, October 20 (IranMania) - Officials from Iran’s Markazi Province and the Republic of Uzbekistan discussed various areas of cooperation, MNA reported. ... 15 dead in Uzbekistan air crash - Oct 19, 2006 RTE.ie,An Uzbekistan Airways civilian plane was participating in a military training flight when it crashed while trying to make an emergency landing. ... 15 Killed in Uzbekistan Military Plane Crash - Oct 19, 2006 MOSNEWS,A small plane being used for military flight training crashed in the Central Asian state of Uzbekistan on Thursday, killing 15 people on board, Uzbek ... Uzbekistan Airways Plane Crashes on Military Flight, Killing 15 - Oct 19, 2006 BloombergOct. 19 (Bloomberg) -- An Uzbekistan Airways An-2 biplane crashed in the Tashkent region late today, killing 13 military personnel and two crew members. ... Fifteen killed in Uzbekistan transport plane crash - Oct 19, 2006 RIA Novosti,TASHKENT, October 19 (RIA Novosti) - An An-2 transport plane carrying servicemen has crashed in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan, killing all 15 people on ... Uzbekistan plane crash kills 15 - Oct 19, 2006 BBC News,At least 15 people, most of them soldiers, have been killed when an aircraft crashed in Uzbekistan. The single-engined Antonov An ... RPT Fifteen people killed in Uzbekistan Airways plane - Oct 19, 2006 Forbes,TASHKENT (AFX) - Fifteen people were killed when an Uzbekistan Airways plane crashed while trying to make an emergency landing near the Uzbek capital Tashkent ... German lawmaker sees no rights progress in Uzbekistan - Oct 18, 2006 Muslim Uzbekistan,A member of a German parliamentary delegation that visited Uzbekistan recently says President Islam Karimov's administration has made no real effort to improve ... Delegation of Vietnam-Uzbekistan Friendship Society visits ... - Oct 18, 2006 UzReport.com,A delegation of the Vietnam-Uzbekistan Friendship Society headed by its Chairman Mr. Do Minh Quy, a graduate of the Tashkent Irrigation Research Academy (1969 ... Uzbekistan: the lowest economic growth and the highest inflation ... - Oct 17, 2006 Ferghana.ru,...high," Owen said. "Economic growth in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan is expected to average 8% this year. This is ... Iran's Markazi Province and Uzbekistan discuss areas of ... - Oct 19, 2006 UzReport.com,Officials from Iran's Markazi Province and the Republic of Uzbekistan on Wednesday discussed various areas of cooperation, MehrNews agency reported. ... Iran’s Markazi Province and Uzbekistan discuss areas of ... - Oct 18, 2006 MehrNews.com,TEHRAN, Oct. 18 (MNA) – Officials from Iran’s Markazi Province and the Republic of Uzbekistan here on Wednesday discussed various areas of cooperation. ... Uzbekistan: 15 dead in an air crash - Oct 19, 2006 Avionews,...(WAPA) - "15 people are dead, two crewmembers and 13 militaries": a note of the Emergency Ministry of Uzbekistan has made known it today afternoon. ... Political purge in Uzbekistan - Oct 20, 2006 ISN,...by international human rights organizations, which assert that the Andijan massacre was rooted in the malfeasance and corruption inherent in Uzbekistan’s clan ... Hyundai May Buy Uzbekistan Assembly Plant - Oct 16, 2006 ShortNews.com,Seoul, South Korea - Hyundai Motor Company announced Friday that it has begun negotiations with the Uzbekistan government to acquire an assembly plant formerly ... 15 Killed in Uzbekistan Plane Crash - Oct 19, 2006 Sofia News Agency,Bulgaria: A plane of Uzbekistan's national air carrier Uzbek Airlines has crashed killing 15 people, reports say. The plane crashed ... 15 killed in Uzbekistan plane crash - Oct 19, 2006 The Daily Star,Fifteen people were killed when an Uzbekistan Airways plane crashed due to poor weather while trying to land near the capital Tashkent yesterday, the emergency ... Uzbekistan (2). crashed an Antonov AN-2. 15 victims - Oct 19, 2006 Avionews,...(WAPA) - An AN-2 transport plane carrying servicemen has crashed in the Tashkent region of Uzbekistan, killing all 15 people on board, the republic's ... UZBEKISTAN PLANE CRASH KILLS 15 - Oct 20, 2006 AzerTag,...have been killed October 19 at 07.30 when an aircraft AH-2 crashed in Urtacircik aerodrome of Tashkent region, which belonged to the “Uzbekistan Hava Yollari ... Uzbekistan to hold II cotton fair - Oct 16, 2006 Kazinform,TASHKENT. October 17, 2006. KAZINFORM. /Rassul Bakhamov/ On October 17-18 the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, will hold the II international cotton fair. ... Uzbekistan : II cotton fair kicks off today - Oct 17, 2006 Fibre2fashion.com,Cotton export earned $1.03 billion which was 19.1% of total export. It is projected that cotton export of Uzbekistan will go up to 53, 0000 tons by 2010. Uzbekistan: Aircraft Crash Kills 15 - Oct 19, 2006 StratforAn An-2 transport aircraft crashed during poor weather conditions in the Uzbek province of Tashkent, the Uzbek Emergencies Ministry said Oct. 19. ... Uzbekistan : Cotton export may decline due to increase in local ... - Oct 19, 2006 Fibre2fashion.com,Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Prime Minister, while opening Second Uzbek cotton fair said that purpose of the fair was to ascertain transparency of cotton export and ... FAST Update Uzbekistan: Semi-Annual Risk Assessment Apr-Oct 2006 - Oct 20, 2006 ReliefWeb (press release),Assessments of the level of stability in Uzbekistan depend on the analytical criteria that are used to define the concept, likewise to identify the potential ... Need Reform In Uzbekistan - Oct 17, 2006 Voice of AmericaBut not all Central Asian countries are pursuing policies to expand wealth and broaden opportunity. Uzbekistan is a case in point. ... Belarus PM, EurAsEC chief to discuss accession of Uzbekistan to ... - Oct 20, 2006 UzReport.com,Sidorskiy and Secretary-General of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) Grigoriy Rapota will discuss legal arrangements of accession of Uzbekistan to the ... Belarus leader approves Uzbekistan's joining to customs union - Oct 20, 2006 UzReport.com,President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko has issued a decree to approve the draft protocol on joining of Uzbekistan to the Agreement on Customs Union between ... Plane crashes in Uzbekistan, 15 people killed - Oct 19, 2006 Regnum,On October 19, an An-2 plane crashed in Uzbekistan, killing 15 people, a REGNUM correspondent is told at Uzbekistan’s Emergency Ministry. ... President resolves to celebrate Eid al-Fitr in Uzbekistan on 23 ... - Oct 19, 2006 UzReport.com,President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a resolution on 18 October to celebrate widely Eid al-Fitr in the country on 23 October and ... Uzbekistan to expand capacity of terminals - Oct 17, 2006 UzReport.com,Uzbekistan plans to expand capacity of cotton terminals from 372,000 tonnes to 400,000 tonnes, Uzbek official said on Tuesday. The ... This series of profiles of foreign nations is part of the Country Studies Program, formerly the Army Area Handbook Program. The profiles offer brief, summarized information on a country’s historical background, geography, society, economy, transportation and telecommunications, government and politics, and national security. In addition to being featured in the front matter of published Country Studies, they are now being prepared as stand-alone reference aides for all countries in the series, as well as for a number of additional countries of interest. The profiles offer reasonably current country information independent of the existence of a recently published Country Study and will be updated annually or more frequently as events warrant. |
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