Karimov, Uzbekistan's leader hospitalized

[Omega1982]

Very interesting and disturbing news.  Islam Karimov, the Uzbek president since 1991 is in the hospital.  The 78 year old has ruled the country for a quarter century.  Despite several human rights abuse claims, he really has kept the country safe, stable and clean.  Needless to say, with an 80 km border with Afghanistan, this is no easy task. 

I did read somewhere that he has kept control over the radical islams.  The country is very secular. 

I've always wondered who will be the next leader.  Will the position be filled with another strong ruler, such as the case with Turkmenistan that lost its ruler in 2006 but was replaced by another strongman, or will the country fall apart to extremist factions? 

There was an interesting article earlier this year that mentioned Turkmenistan as one of the safest places on earth. 

Let's see what the future holds for Uzbekistan, an interesting, exotic country with a rich culture, a long history and beautiful women. 

[Donhollio]

With a Muslim population of 88% and quite suppressed as far as wearing the head and face garb. I can only see a power struggle taking hold, done up in typical Soviet style with plenty of corruption, political assinanion and general seek Soviet stuff.  Maybe Putin will try to help the few remaining Russians stuck I one of the top ten dictatorships for human rights abuses in the world.
 In the end the country will remain a basket case. Worst case out come is that it goes off the deep end and goes full blown Muslim.
 Even though there's no seaport or natural resources,  only Putin can save the day!

[Markje]

Karimov didn't make it and died in the Hospital from the results of a (now fatal) brain aneurism.

According to dutch news, the aneurysm (spelling?) opened up and caused a bleeding in the mans brain

[Gipsy]

Karimov didn't make it and died in the Hospital from the results of a (now fatal) brain aneurism.

According to dutch news, the aneurysm (spelling?) opened up and caused a bleeding in the mans brain

Turkey are also reporting his death....

[Omega1982]

Let's see what will happen the next few weeks. 

If things get bad, perhaps Putin will assist the ethnic Russians in relocating back to Russia. 

I was told there is some program in place for the ethnic Russians to be able to return back home. 

If all or most of the very few ethnic Russians leave, then the dating scene there will also end. 

[andrewfi]

Yeah, like the survival of the mail order bride business is the most significant issue facing that country right now?

[Jerash]

Yeah, like the survival of the mail order bride business is the most significant issue facing that country right now?

Yes, indeed, I had the same thought..

I read that the establishment is possibly strong there and that they will internally bring forward a new successor to keep on the path of suppression and ensuring that Omega can continue to visit Russian minorities there in need of his rescue....  

[Omega1982]

This is a forum about dating in the fsu or did it change to one on middle eastern politics? 

Jerash, I do not plan to "rescue" anyone.  I am a well seasoned traveler. 

You do not know me. You know what happens when you assume. 

[Manny]

President Vladimir Putin called Karimov’s death a “heavy loss for the people of Uzbekistan”. Barack Obama said the “United States reaffirms its support for the people of Uzbekistan”.

Source.

Uzbekistan has the fourth largest gold deposits in the world. Is this a place the US envisages it might "spread democracy" to?

Wikileaked cables reporting on U.S. negotiations with Karimov over the past few years reveal a president who doesn’t seem to care much about how the U.S. sees his government, but just doesn’t want what he calls American “pressure and diktats” to reform.

Source

[Omega1982]

Great point Manny. 

First the resources and second, the country is strategically important. 

Putin was very accurate when he said that Karimov brought stability and security to Central Asia. 

[AvHdB]

Yeah, like the survival of the mail order bride business is the most significant issue facing that country right now?

    . 

  please do not say it too loudly it might upset some.

[iceman_530]

This one is a really big deal.  My wife is Uzbek so this one hits home.  She was thinking about visiting home for a month or two this winter but that might not be the case now.  Id like to think some good can come from this and maybe some things can get more liberalized (the god awful exit visa for one), but I get to thinking of the IMU (Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan) really taking off after this.  Was looking at a vacation there now that Turkey has become less than ideal, but hopefully the Uzbeks can behave better than the Turks and stuff remains tranquil and civil. 

[Omega1982]

Thanks for sharing iceman. 

I have some friends there also. 

Is your wife ethnic Uzbek or Russian? 

I know there are also many Tatars there and the more secular ones have married Russians or Uzbeks. 

What part of the US do you live in if you don't mind me asking? 

[andrewfi]

Manny, I'd be surprised if somebody in the State Department has not been blowing dust off a folder that details their plans for 'assisting' Uzbekistan during this transitional period.

Hopefully the folder being opened by the guys at the CIA has much the same content or we will see another 'civil war' with US proxies facing off against US proxies and the US presiding over the demise of yet another nation and state.

[iceman_530]

looks like things are calming  down, they just said screw the election and went straight with the Prime Minister for the sake of stability.  I think Uzbekistan will remain the perfect neutral in the region.  will be curious if they join the Eurasian Union so Uzbek citizens can work in Russia without as much trouble as they currently do. 

[andrewfi]

This is a transitional arrangement pending a presidential election in a few months. The arrangement seems normal enough and the incumbent would seem to be a rational and reasonable selection.

Let us see what happens before the general election. I am hopeful, but not confident, that matters will proceed with negligible additional meddling.