Dismissing the idea of an "orange revolution" in Uzbekistan , President Islam Karimov said in a rare interview printed in the Russian news daily Nezavisimaya gazeta on Friday (January 14) that foreign influence would play no role in Uzbekistan because, "Foreign interference is effective only... MORE

A tense situation is unfolding near the South Kazakhstan--Uzbekistan border. In a program approved by Uzbekistan's Prime Minister, Shavkat Mirziyaev, local authorities are planning to demolish settlements and private dachas that happen to be located in the zone of border delimitation. Two districts of the... MORE

President Islam Karimov has again raised the need for heightened security and cooperation with the United States in the war on terror ahead of Uzbekistan's December 26 parliamentary elections. Coinciding with the re-run of the presidential election in Ukraine, the Uzbek vote will stand in... MORE

On December 1 a spontaneous riot erupted in Markhamat, a district center located 30 km south of the city of Andizhan in Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley. The riot involved approximately 300-350 people and was precipitated by electricity shortages in the district. The rioters demanded that the... MORE

A recent series of high-level meetings in the context of the Central Asian Cooperation Organization and the November 19 summit between Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov and Turkmenistan President Saparmurat Niyazov produced rhetorical statements of renewed interest in regional cooperation. But even as Central Asian political... MORE

The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, and the President of Turkmenistan, Saparmurat Niyazov, met in Bukhara on November 19. The leaders of the two countries signed a treaty "On Friendship, Confidence-building, and Developing Cooperation." In addition, the presidents signed a bilateral agreement on mutual visits... MORE

Mass riots have rocked the city of Khokand located in Uzbekistan's Fergana Valley. The riots started after a government decree on toughening trade regulations, which was issued in August, went into effect on November 1, 2004. The new regulations make it mandatory for every merchant... MORE

The removal of Craig Murray, the United Kingdom's ambassador to Uzbekistan, has emerged as the culmination of a series of events linked to his critique of the government of Uzbekistan. The actual causes belli centered upon allegations Murray made in an internal memo circulated within... MORE

Uzbekistan has implemented a series of practical measures in Namangan Region (Eastern Uzbekistan, bordering Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan), aimed at raising public confidence in the ability of the local authorities to cope with the threat posed by terrorism. The regional law-enforcement bodies have established close cooperation... MORE

Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov, speaking during an unscheduled press conference in Tashkent on August 26, revealed key aspects of Uzbekistan's position on responding to terrorism within its borders and illustrated how the Uzbek leader perceives international support for his attempts to counter the terrorist threat... MORE