Uzbekistan return to Russian sphere of influence

Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov dies aged 78

The funeral will be held in Samarkand on September 3, says an official statement by the Cabinet of Ministers and the parliament read out on national television. Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been appointed to chair the commission to organize the funeral of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, says the report.

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Putin: Uzbek people can count on Russia’s support

The Russia president met with Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev

SAMARKAND, September 6. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that the Uzbek people and the leadership of the republic can count on Russia entirely, as the most reliable friend.

"Of course, we very much hope that all that was established by President Islam Karimov will be continued. We, for our part, are doing everything possible to support this way of our mutual development, to support the people of Uzbekistan, the Uzbek leadership. You can count on us entirely as the most reliable friends", Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

He said that "Islam Karimov has laid a very solid foundation in the relationship between our two countries, built our relationship as strategic partnership."

Vladimir Putin said that during their talks, Islam Karimov, speaking about the prospects of bilateral relations, used to say that the republic’s potential depended on them. "We have always valued this very much", the Russian president said. He added that Russia cherishes relations with Uzbekistan, the ties between the two countries’ peoples and cultures.


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Uzbek PM Mirziyoyev appointed acting president

The country's parliament has recommended Central Election Commission to set the date for presidential election

TASHKENT, September 8. /TASS/. Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been appointed as the acting president, the republic’s governmental portal said on Thursday announcing a decision approved by the parliament.

"The chambers of Oliy Majlis (Supreme Assembly) passed a joint resolution on temporarily devolving responsibilities and powers of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev," the statement said.

The parliament has recommended the Central Election Commission to organize presidential elections in accordance with the country’s law.

Chairman of the Senate Nigmatilla Yuldashev put forward the proposal on Mirziyoyev’s appointment "taking into consideration his experience of many years at the top positions in the state government and administration bodies, and also respect among the population," the statement read.

The heads of factions of political parties, deputies and senators backed the proposal due to "the need to maintain stability, ensure public security and order, and to efficiently solve the most important issues of political, social and economic development of the country in current conditions."
Central Election Commission to set presidential election date in coming days

The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan will soon appoint the date of the country’s presidential election, a CEC representative told TASS on Thursday.

"We will certainly in the coming days hold a meeting and determine the date of the early election of a new head of state in connection with the death on September 2 of the first President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov", the source said. "In accordance with the law, the election must be held within three months", he added.

Uzbekistan’s first President Islam Karimov died after suffering a stroke at the age of 78 on September 2.

Islam Karimov was born on January 30, 1938 in Samarkand, a city in eastern Uzbekistan. Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, when he became the First Secretary of the republic’s Communist Party. In March 1990, he became the first president of the republic. In 1991, Karimov won the first presidential election in Uzbekistan and served as president for five years. He retained his top post following nationwide referendums in 1995 and 2002, and after direct elections in 2000, 2007 and 2015.

Karimov is one of the longest-serving presidents in the former Soviet states. He remained in power for 26 years. In addition, the president was awarded the title Hero of Uzbekistan. Karimov is also a doctor of science and an honorary academic at many educational institutions and establishments throughout many foreign countries. He is the author of books on Uzbekistan’s political and economic development. His works, statements and texts of his speeches were published in a ten-volume book.


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Uzbekistan sets presidential elections for December 4

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Uzbekistan’s President-elect thanks international monitors in Russian

On Monday, Uzbekistan’s Central Electoral Commission published the election results, which revealed that Mirziyoyev had garnered 88.61% of the votes

TASHKENT, December 5 /TASS/. Uzbekistan’s President-elect Shavkat Mirziyoyev, speaking in Russian, thanked international observers from over 40 countries for monitoring yesterday’s presidential election held in the Central Asian country.

"I would like to thank the monitors and prominent international organizations for actively participating and monitoring the elections and also for their great attention to democratic transformations in Uzbekistan," Mirziyoyev said in a speech delivered at a ceremony at the Uzexpocentre on Monday.

Over 5,000 people carrying national flags and symbols of the Liberal Democratic Party had assembled to greet the newly-elected president.

On Monday, Uzbekistan’s Central Electoral Commission published the election results, which revealed that Mirziyoyev had garnered 88.61% of the votes.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev was born on July 24, 1957 to a family of a TB doctor in the Zaamin township in Soviet Uzbekistan.

In 1981, he graduated from the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration (now the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Mechanization of Agriculture). He holds a PhD in Technological Sciences. In 1981-1992, Mirziyoyev worked at the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration.

In 1990, Mirziyoyev was elected deputy of the Supreme Soviet of Uzbekistan;

In 1994, he became a deputy of the country’s new parliament (Oliy Majilis). He was re-elected to Oliy Majilis in 1999.

In 1992, Mirziyoyev became the administration chief of the Mirzo-Ulugbek district of Tashkent. In 1996-1999, he was the administrative head of the Dzhiazsky region of Uzbekistan. In 2001-2003, he headed the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan.

On December 11, 2003, the Uzbek parliament appointed Mirziyoyev the country’s prime minister. He was re-appointed to that post another three times. A year later, Mirziyoyev became a member of the Political Council of the UzLiDeP pro-government party, which was created in Uzbekistan in 2004.

Mirziyoyev became Uzbekistan’s acting president after President Islam Karimov’s had passed away this past September.


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Putin notes amazing growth of trade turnover between Russia and Uzbekistan

Imports from Uzbekistan to Russia increased by 55.4% last year

MOSCOW, April 5. /TASS/. The bilateral trade and economic ties between Russia and Uzbekistan have intensified, and in some sectors see a remarkable increase in turnover, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

Putin noted that the documents prepared for this visit indicate a new step in the development of relations between the two countries. He added that with Mirziyoyev as the President of Uzbekistan, "We are witnessing our trade and economic ties intensifying, and we have always paid special attention to it." "It should be noted that in general we keep the trade turnover at a high level. In some positions it grows in a remarkable manner," the President said.

In particular, Putin talked about light industry and the agro-industrial complex. "Trade turnover in agriculture has more than doubled," the Russian leader said.

According to Putin, the countries maintain a constant dialogue at the political level, and develop relations in the sphere of security. "Uzbekistan's position in the region is very important to us, keeping in mind the tensions that somehow affect us from neighboring countries, primarily from Afghanistan," he said.

"We are very pleased that you have found an opportunity to visit Russia," Putin told Mirziyoyev in the beginning of the meeting. Putin also noted that the documents prepared for this visit speak of a serious new step in the development of relations between the two countries.

According to the materials prepared for the meeting, imports of Uzbek fruit and vegetable products to Russia in 2016 grew by 92% (to $114.2 mln) in value terms, and 2.3-fold in physical terms (to 142,800 tonnes). In general, in physical volumes, the Russian-Uzbek trade turnover grew by 1% last year (while Russian exports slightly decreased, imports from Uzbekistan increased by 55.4%). In terms of value, the trade turnover between the two countries declined by 3.9% in 2016 to $2.726 bln.


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http://tass.com/economy/939565

Nice!

Russia and Uzbekistan to hold joint military drills in Central Asia

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http://tass.com/defense/954422

Russia, Uzbekistan team up for military drills at Uzbek Forish ground

A joint Russian-Uzbek tactical exercise begins at the Forish military range

TASHKENT, October 3. /TASS/. A joint Russian-Uzbek tactical exercise started on Tuesday at the Forish military range in the mountains of Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region, sources from the Russian Embassy in Tashkent said on Tuesday.

"The exercise takes place within the framework of the agreements reached during a state visit of the Uzbek president to Moscow on April 4-5, 2017," they said. According to the embassy, on Monday a military-transport aircraft of the Russian Defense Ministry airlifted Russian military to the Uzbek capital.

The Russian team includes an operational group from the headquarters of the Central Military District and units of a mountain motorized rifle brigade stationed in Russia’s Tuva republic.

The military of the two countries are expected to simulate a joint operation to fight terrorist groups and will also train practical skills of blocking and destroying illegal armed groups in the mountains.

The Forish ground is located 250 kilometers from Tashkent on the northern slopes of the Nuratau ridge at an altitude of 2,169 meters above sea level. The joint military drills are taking place after a 12-year break. The previous exercise bringing together Russian and Uzbek military was held there in 2005.


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Russia, Uzbekistan agree on mutual use of airspace by military aircraft

The agreement will also allow both countries to promptly resolve the issues of military cargo carriages and military transport planes to make non-stop flights

TASHKENT, October 12. /TASS/. Russian and Uzbekistani Defense Ministers Army General Sergei Shoigu and Major-General Abdusalom Azizov have signed an agreement on the mutual use of the airspace by military aircraft, TASS reports from the scene.

The agreement will also allow both countries to promptly resolve the issues of military cargo carriages and military transport planes to make non-stop flights.

The defense ministers of both countries also signed a plan of the ministries’ cooperation for 2019.


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