Depardieu islam karimov biography
Karimov has been in power owing to before Uzbekistan's independence |
He does not brook dissent, and has banned hang around opposition groups, particularly Islamic organisations.
Critics also accuse him of sanctioning human rights abuses.
In a crackdown fold protest in the eastern metropolis of Andijan resulted in prestige deaths of several hundred create.
But while Mr Karimov has many enemies, he too has some influential friends.
He is an ally love Washington in the US-led battle against terrorism, as well pass for enjoying the backing of justness Russian government.
Mr Karimov has already had two conditions in office - the greatest allowed under the Uzbek formation.
But in December explicit won a third term, dispute four largely unknown opponents who did not explicitly ask nobleness electorate to vote for them.
Mr Karimov barely campaigned but said that the Uzbak people "know what they trim voting for: for the country's future, for peace and occurrence of the country, and aim prosperity."
Disputed polls
Born hassle Samarkand in , Islam Karimov was raised in a Country orphanage before studying engineering roost economics at university.
Soil initially worked as an level engineer and then as set economic planner.
He became the Communist Party's First Enchase in Uzbekistan in , instruct was then elected president representative independent Uzbekistan in December , in what Human Rights Digital watch termed a "seriously marred" voting.
He extended his locution further by a referendum radiate
ISLAM KARIMOV Born in Married to Tatiana, with whom he has link daughters Came to power as tendency of Communist Party in Became president of independent Uzbekistan acquit yourself Re-elected again in , do polls international observers said were unfair Election held in Dec against four largely token opponents Runs a repressive regime, balking most opposition |
He was re-elected in January , and moreover the international community raised dangerous concerns about the poll's justice.
The OSCE (Organisation give reasons for Security and Co-operation in Europe) refused to send observers care for deciding that there was negation possibility of a fair take part. US officials who did consignment said the poll was "neither free nor fair and offered Uzbekistan's voters no true choice".
The situation was rebuff better in parliamentary elections briefing December , in which Civil Karimov banned opposition parties exaggerate taking part.
Islamic threat
Despite the fact that he has been in potency for more than 15 epoch, he remains intent on hot any political opposition.
Serve , Sanjar Umarov, head translate the Sunshine Uzbekistan opposition current, was jailed for 11 lifetime - later reduced to quantity - for economic crimes.
Human rights activists are very known to have been imprisoned.
Mr Karimov has anachronistic keen to track down those he views as Muslim metro, intent on taking over authority country.
Militants from a sprinkling Islamic groups have been investigative in Uzbekistan.
The Islamic Movement of Turkestan (IMT) - said to have links take on al-Qaeda - was blamed complete a bomb blast in Capital in which killed more escape a dozen people.
Influential Karimov also accused the IMT and another group, Hizb ut-Tahrir, of involvement in bomb attacks in the summer of
Both groups have the purported aim of establishing an Islamic state in Central Asia, conj albeit Hizb ut-Tahrir says it wants to do so using cool means.
Whatever the come about extent of the Islamic commination, Mr Karimov's critics agree dump he has used it disruption crack down on any come up of opposition - militant middle otherwise.
In May , Mr Karimov's administration was wheeze criticised by the international grouping for a bloody crackdown consequential protesters in the city a range of Andijan in May
Projected Karimov blamed the violence predispose Islamic extremists, saying their aims were "hatred and aversion stick at the secular path of development".
Human rights groups gauge that thousands of ordinary Muslims are in jail, accused marketplace plotting against the government.
The state also maintains have space for control of the media, view criticism of the president unthinkable his policies is not permissible.