Translate
03 September 2016
Uzbekistan president Islam Karimov death confirmed
Islam Karimov: Uzbekistan president's death confirmed
BBC
Uzbek government has confirmed the death of President Islam Karimov, six days after he was taken to hospital with a suspected brain haemorrhage.
One of Asia's most authoritarian leaders, Mr Karimov, 78, died after 27 years in power.
His funeral will be overseen by Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev, seen as a potential successor.
Rights groups say Mr Karimov repressed opposition to his rule but for supporters he represented stability.
He will be buried on Saturday in his home city of Samarkand and three days of mourning will be observed.
A United Nations report has described the use of torture under Mr Karimov as "systematic".
The late leader often justified his strong-arm tactics by highlighting the danger from Islamist militancy in the mainly Muslim country, which borders Afghanistan.
Expressing his condolences in a statement (in Russian), Russian President Vladimir Putin described Mr Karimov as a statesman "who had contributed to the security and stability of Central Asia" and who would be a "great loss for the people of Uzbekistan".
Reading the signs: Analysis by Sarah Rainsford, BBC News, MoscowImage copyrightAPImage captionPolice outside the Tashkent hospital where Islam Karimov was being treated
The official announcement of Islam Karimov's death came on Friday night but Turkey's prime minister had sent condolences to Tashkent hours earlier - live on television, suggesting the funeral invitations had already gone out. So why did the Uzbek authorities hold back with their statement?
It is possible they were focussed on practicalities - preparing the burial site and gathering suitably senior world dignitaries for the send-off. Perhaps, too, Uzbekistan's powerful security service was stalling, watching for any hint of unrest or a power grab?
But Islam Karimov ruled for more than a quarter of a century without naming a successor so the delay could well point to a struggle for power behind the scenes. It is hard to know, in such a closed system.
That has left Uzbekistan-watchers trying to read the signs. In Soviet times, whoever led the funeral commission would end up running the country. That may mean Prime Minister Mirziyoyev is the man to watch but for Uzbekistan all this is unprecedented and it is early days.Image copyrightAPImage captionPolice could be seen guarding an area in Samarkand on Friday
'Immense pain'
President Putin addressed his message to Uzbek senate leader Nigmatulla Yuldashev who, under the constitution, becomes acting president pending early elections.
Mr Yuldashev is unlikely to fill the presidential role more permanently, analysts say.
Mr Mirziyoyev has been in office since 2003 and his deputy, Rustam Azimov, is also seen as a key player.
News of Mr Karimov's death was finally confirmed after several foreign leaders and diplomatic sources reported it on Friday, following days of rumours that he had already died.
"Dear compatriots, it is with an immense pain in our hearts that we inform you of the death of our dear president," a state TV presenter said.Image copyrightINSTAGRAMImage captionLola Karimova-Tillyaeva's post
One of Mr Karimov's daughters, Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, posted a black square on Instagram with the words: "He left us... I choose my words and cannot believe it myself..."Image copyrightGETTY IMAGESImage captionSome say Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev could have the upper hand
Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim broke news of the death at a televised meeting of his cabinet.
Reports from diplomatic sources suggested several regional leaders were making plans to visit Samarkand for the funeral.
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev is expected to represent Russia.
How rumours grew:
Sunday: President Karimov "receiving in-patient treatment", Uzbek cabinet of ministers announces
Monday: Daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva writes on Instagram that he has suffered a brain haemorrhage
Wednesday: Government cancels some celebrations for independence day on Thursday
Thursday: Mr Karimov's independence day speech read out on state TV by a presenter
Friday: Government confirms death
Some human rights groups say the Uzbek government is one of the most repressive in the world, notably after a crackdown in the eastern city of Andijanin 2005, when hundreds were killed.
Mr Karimov's followers argue that curbs on freedom are a small price to pay for law and order.
"Yes of course, it's a price for stability, because we see what is happening now in Syria, in Iraq, in Yemen, in Afghanistan and even in Europe - you cannot defend yourself from the terrorist attacks," Sherzod Igamberdiev, a lawyer in Tashkent, told BBC News.
"If you put all your efforts into stopping terrorism, you will have criticism, but we live here, we know the situation on the inside, we are satisfied with him, we love him."
Republic of Uzbekistan
Capital: Tashkent
Population 28.1 million
Area 447,400 sq km (172,700 sq miles)
Major languages Uzbek, Russian, Tajik
Major religion Islam
Life expectancy 66 years (men), 72 years (women)
Currency Uzbek som
UN, World Bank
Analysts say Mr Karimov has played Russia, China and the West against each other to keep Uzbekistan from total isolation and to receive limited US aid.
Strains in relations with Moscow have appeared intermittently, notably when Tashkent suspended its membership of a Russian-led military alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. In 2014, Russia wrote off most of Uzbekistan's foreign debt to Moscow, forgiving $865m.
Popular Posts - Last 7 days
-
Tourism Malaysia lancar jualan tengah malam untuk warga Singapura sempena Deepavali di JB Bernama 12/10/2024 Edisi pertama Jualan Tengah Mal...
-
Rosmah’s tax-related charges bad in law - Lawyer Bernama 11/10/2024 Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor's lawyer says there are no proceeds of an ...
-
Bursa Malaysia dibuka meningkat, jejak prestasi semalaman pasaran AS Bernama 15/10/2024 Pada 9.06 am, indeks petunjuk utama FTSE Bursa Malay...
-
Tanah runtuh Taman Melawati: Lebih 300 penduduk dipindah ke dewan serba guna - Polis Astro Awani 15/10/2024 Kejadian kira-kira pukul 10.30 p...
-
Amaran ribut petir di lapan negeri, KL dan Putrajaya hari ini Bernama 15/10/2024 Berdasarkan amaran yang dimuat naik di media sosial jabatan...
-
SC rekod 3,380 aduan penipuan, aktiviti tidak berlesan setakat suku ketiga 2024 Bernama 12/10/2024 Pada 2023, Suruhanjaya Sekuriti Malaysia ...
-
Melaka poised to become EV manufacturing hub Bernama 15/10/2024 Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh said the use of EVs is crucial in s...
-
Government considering terminating egg subsidy - Mohamad Bernama 09/10/2024 Minister of Agriculture and Food Security Datuk Seri Mohamad Sa...
-
GST hanya akan dilaksanakan sekiranya ambang gaji minimum meningkat kepada RM3,000 - PM Anwar Bernama 13/10/2024 Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri...
-
Sekolah agama swasta terlibat penderaan, gangguan seksual berdepan tindakan tegas - JAIS Bernama 13/10/2024 MOHD SHAHZIHAN: Tidak boleh sama...
Popular Posts - Last 30 days
-
Tourism Malaysia lancar jualan tengah malam untuk warga Singapura sempena Deepavali di JB Bernama 12/10/2024 Edisi pertama Jualan Tengah Mal...
-
BBQ Buffet Buy 2 Free 1 Experience a sumptuous BBQ Steamboat Buffet Dinner with Royale Chulan's exclusive "Buy 2 Free 1&qu...
-
Wan Saiful trial: Prosecution witness says RM38,160 deposited into Sinar Karangkraf account Bernama 18/09/2024 Former Bersatu Information c...
-
Malaysia raih jualan lebih RM400 juta di Ekspo China-ASEAN 2024 Bernama 03/10/2024 Abu Bakar berkata Matrade kekal fokus dalam menyokong pe...
-
Indecent dress run: Three men were arrested to help with the investigation Screen capture of participants dressed indecently in the 2024 Pa...
-
Bekas CEO 1MDB bukan saksi yang boleh dipercayai - Peguam Najib Bernama 30/09/2024 Wan Azwan Aiman, yang mewakili Najib, berkata saksi pend...
-
Paip pecah, sebahagian KL tiada air - Air Selangor Astro Awani 08/10/2024 Pengguna boleh mendapatkan maklumat berhubung gangguan bekalan air...
-
Property tycoon Ong Beng Seng charged with two offences linked to Iswaran's case 04 Oct 2024 SINGAPORE - Property tycoon Ong Beng Sen...
Blog Archive
-
▼
2016
(4563)
-
▼
Sept 2016
(415)
- President Duterte' Speech at the 9th National Bien...
- Malaysian F1 GP: Pit lane fire drama Kevin Magnuss...
- Thai health authorities on Friday said microcephal...
- President Duterte ‘saddened’ by death of Defensor-...
- President Rodrigo Duterte arrives at the Davao Air...
- President Duterte Given State Welcome and Banquet ...
- U.S. health officials are advising pregnant women ...
- Call the police if you spot this man... The photo ...
- Nineteen year-old Malaysian student Nur Shakinah N...
- Valentines Day Killer An engineer accused of killi...
- Singaporean Cleaning Supervisor Jailed 3 weeks for...
- A buzzing sex toy mistaken for a bomb delayed a Th...
- Police have arrested the prime suspect behind the ...
- Action can be taken against Uber in Sarawak and Sa...
- A New Jersey Transit train crashed into the Hoboke...
- Masterful Malaysian Rafiq Ismail Wins Men's Master...
- Ada individu Menyamar Pelakon Niena Baharun di Wha...
- President Rodrigo Duterte in Vietnam for official ...
- A paralysed elderly woman is believed to have been...
- Thanks to 800 member of the public JPJ issued 2522...
- Malaysia International Institute of Islamic Cooper...
- A teenager died on the spot when the Perodua Myvi ...
- Japanese automaker Honda said Wednesday a Takata a...
- PROTON shortlisted five potential foreign partners...
- Police have arrested an unemployed man who alleged...
- A 16-year-old student has reported to the police t...
- Cross-border kidnap-for-ransom Sulu gunmen hit twi...
- Police have opened three investigation papers over...
- Beauty products entrepreneur Datuk Seri Hasmiza Ot...
- Video Berebut Hak Penjagaan Anak Menjadi Viral.
- Proton Saga 2016 Walkaround by CarSifu and PaulTan...
- Triple Deaths, 3-year-old and her 7-month-old brot...
- Video Anak dipisahkan dengan ibunya dalam suatu ke...
- Video of Newborn baby found naked in a wet plastic...
- Wanita yang melalui penderaan di tangan suaminya a...
- Video That Poses Questions on MH17 Disaster Goes V...
- Russian Radar Data shows no missile approached MH1...
- MH17 Disaster Inquiry Team Establish That Russian ...
- Philippines President Duterte Has No Problem Apolo...
- President Duterte Gets Rock Star Send Off at Airpo...
- 16-year-old Penangite Jeryl Lee Pei Ling dream has...
- A Police operation is continuing in Sembawang, aft...
- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claims the Opposition exp...
- A Penang Island City Council enforcement officer s...
- Malaysian student Norsakinah Naim is reported miss...
- Sam Allardyce sacked as England manager.
- IHH ceased to be associate company of Mitsui follo...
- Make America Sniffle Again- Republican candidate D...
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel commended Malaysia...
- PKR vice-president Tian Chua has been convicted of...
- Full Video of Melody United's Race-Week Mini Conce...
- Parts of New TVB Spy Thriller "Hidden" series secr...
- Two "Muktadil Brothers” responsible for a dozen ki...
- Jailed PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim remains...
- WhatsApp users should beware of messages asking us...
- Cousin of Gareth Bale's fiancee flees to Malaysia ...
- Inspection of the Mega Shabu Laboratory by Preside...
- SIMPLY ELECTRIFYING SHOWCASE AT HARD ROCK CAFE FT....
- It's World Tourism Day Today September 27, 2016
- The USA Presidential Debate - LIVE Monday, Septemb...
- 6 employers have dismissed workers for playing POK...
- BEST FB KL Top Postings on Tuesday 27/9/2016
- Gardener who was seen running back into a burning ...
- A hairstylist decided to kill his lover of eight y...
- ISTERI CERITA KEJADIAN BEKAS WARTAWAN TV3 DIPUKUL
- Philippines top cop returns from Colombia and warn...
- The Philippines on Monday reported its first known...
- Air Asia group chief executive officer Tan Sri Ton...
- Female medical student sneaks into Syria to join IS
- Malaysia Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak...
- President Duterte is certain Sen. Leila de Lima wi...
- Canadian pM Trudeau may have charmed the entire wo...
- Police today confirmed that the suspect involved i...
- Oath Taking of MalacaƱang Press Corps (MPC), Malac...
- Ahmad Najib Canny Ong's rapist-killer finally hang...
- Philippines tells world not to interfere in Dutert...
- No water disruption on Sept 27-28 in Kuala Lumpur ...
- Daughter and Dad killed after Go Kart Hits Spectators
- Malaysia's Lee Chong Wei on Sunday won his sixth Y...
- Golfing legend Arnold Palmer has died aged 87.
- police have detained a Singaporean man in connecti...
- Arsenal Thump Chelsea 3-0 as Alexis Sanchez, Theo ...
- Russian Arms Supplier Almaz Antey hands over radar...
- Netizen Label Pemilik Kosmetik Satin skinz "syok s...
- Bagaimana Rupa Proton Saga 2016 Baharu Dari Jarak ...
- Liverpool, Manchester United and City all score bi...
- Water Cuts in KL and Petaling Area on Tuesday 3.0...
- An Indian court has issued arrest warrants for Mal...
- Motorola Solutions is eyeing to shift the operatio...
- "Only if and when the international community stan...
- Three shot dead at a Washington state mall as poli...
- Paralympics gold medallist Mohamad Ridzuan Puzi re...
- Train to Busan has netted RM20mil in takings, maki...
- A Penang-born video journalist based in the United...
- The Automobile Association of Malaysia (AAM), the ...
- National Guard soldiers set up around the city in ...
- Crocodile spotted at Taman Seri Sentosa
- Former AG today conceded that the termination of ...
- Police believe they have crippled a syndicate sell...
- 1.3 million PTPTN borrowers black listed under the...
-
▼
Sept 2016
(415)