Posted on 12/29/2004 1:29:23 PM PST by Lukasz
Uzbek voters knew absolutely nothing. They did not know who to vote for because they did not have any information about the candidates running for parliament. Everything was shrouded in mystery, except the fact that all parties in the race had been founded by state authorities.
Another curious aspect of the Dec. 26 elections was that they were held under an artificial state of emergency. Particular attention was paid to the Ferghana Valley, Bukhara and Samarkand. Ten days before the elections, troops from the Interior Ministry, the Defense Ministry and the National Security Service began regular patrols of these regions. Security forces took full control of all city mosques and public places, supposed potential sites for terrorist attacks. Operations to detain "extremist elements" also took place. So-called suspicious persons were brought into local police stations and booked, or were simply arrested on the spot. These included political activists calling for a boycott of the elections. Arrests occurred across Uzbekistan, and human rights activists and opposition party members were followed, put under house arrest and not allowed to register at the polls, even though the main opposition parties, Erk and Birlik, had been excluded from the race.
There was one person, however, who seemed happy with the elections, namely Vladimir Rushailo, who led the observer mission from the Commonwealth of Independent States. He was so pleased with things that he flew off to Kiev before the polls had even closed. For once, everything went off just as Russia had hoped.
After these farcical elections, Uzbekistan faces yet another period of social and political tension. The regime of Islam Karimov will continue to turn moderate believers into fanatics in whatever quantities needed to keep the regime safe and to scare the West into handing over anti-terrorist aid.
At the same time, Karimov will cozy up with Russia out of fear of the recent revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine. Russia has promised it will try to guarantee that there will be no such revolution in Uzbekistan. However, the situation in the country is growing more and more explosive by the day. People who once feared prison have discovered that a life of freedom in Uzbekistan is not all that different from life behind bars. They no longer fear taking extreme measures.
Yet the Karimov regime's real enemy is not extremism, but the extreme poverty of the population at large. Real democratic elections could save Uzbekistan from this impending social explosion, but the regime refuses to risk losing power. The West may ignore Uzbekistan's human rights abuses and Russia may long for a manageable Uzbekistan, but only time will tell how long Karimov can withstand the increasing public discontent and desperation in Uzbekistan.
BTTT
Look for next example of Putin's destructive activity.
yes hehe and Soros is funded by Osama!
no lukasz that dictator has been there for 15+ years before putins time. Also they are the ones who allowed US to have a base there and cut off most of the Russian ties... He is an american favorite...
I know that American administration isn’t saint but still he is Russian puppet, American don’t have any interest to protect dictatorship in Uzbekistan. If Uzbekistan would be free, it is even more possible that they would give permission for American bases. As you pointed he was supported not only by Putin but also by previous Russian leaders.
your twisting my words... Putin didn't support him. He was from befor putins time most of the leaders in central asian states were. They are pre 89 people all little kings in their fiefdoms. He decided to stop using Russian and cyrillic and put an end to one of the agrements that created a unified defense force of the former cis.
Please dont make it seem like all the problems in the republics are Putins doing that isn't the case. Blaming Putin for what he does is a bit absurd.
All leaders of the modern Russia supported dictators, not only Putin. Truth is that if Uzbekistan will be free, they may show their backs to Russia like Baltic countries or Georgia. Karimov made a deal with Russia that if they will tolerate him, he will support them in other cases. Read this article above, about Russian guarantees. They openly support Lukashenko, and this issue is very familiar to me, that is why I don’t have reasons to not believe in that stuff.
Lukashenko yes because he promised to re-integrate after his term. (ergo rejoin Russia with BelloRussia). But that doesn't mean they support everyone that simply isn't the case.
Ok. I understand that if Poland would help to destroy regime in Uzbekistan, you and Russia would support us, right?
good luck, I wouldnt really care honestly. Thats a different scenario altogether.
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