LocationCentral Asia.
Area447,400 sq km (172,740 sq miles).
Population26.9 million (UN, 2005).
Population Density60.1 per sq km.
CapitalTashkent.
Population: 2.2 million (UN estimate 2001; including suburbs).
GovernmentRepublic. Declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Recent history: In 1989 Islam Karimov took over as head of the Uzbek Communist party (now the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, PDPU). Uzbekistan assumed independence in 1991 upon the
break up of the Soviet Union. The PRPU, with Karimov at its head, has held power continuously ever since, occasionally in alliance with allied parties such as the Progress of the Fatherland party. He has been re-elected several times, most recently in 2000, with overwhelming majorities and against nominal opposition. In April 2002, Karimov won a referendum to extend the length of his current term from five to eight years, guaranteeing that he will remain in power until at least 2008. Domestic opposition is divided between secular democratic forces and Islamic parties.
Erk (Freedom),
Birlik (Democracy), and a third organization,
Adolat (Justice), comprising the secular opposition, have combined in the Democratic Opposition Co-ordinating Council. All three are currently banned, although a more relaxed attitude recently on the part of the Government has allowed them to organize openly. Uzbekistan has played a valuable role in recent American military campaigns in Afghanistan (with whom it shares a border) and Iraq: the American military now have a relatively small but permanent and growing presence in the country. This has been of some concern to the Russians, who have military bases in most of the former Soviet republics but not Uzbekistan. In November 2005, Russia and Uzbekistan signed an agreement paving the way for much closer military cooperation.
LanguageThe official language is Uzbek, a Turkic tongue closely related to Kazakh and Kyrgyz. There is a small Russian-speaking minority. Many people involved with tourism speak English. The Government has stated its intention to change the Cyrillic script to the Latin.
ReligionPredominantly Sunni Muslim, with Shia (15 per cent), Russian Orthodox and Jewish minorities.
TimeGMT + 5.
Electricity220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin continental plugs are standard.
Head of GovernmentPrime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev since 2003.
Head of StatePresident Islam Karimov since 1991.
TelephoneCountry code: 998. Area code for Tashkent: 71. IDD is available, but calls from hotel rooms still need to be booked either from reception or from the floor attendant. International calls can also be made from main post offices (in Tashkent on Prospekt Navoi). Direct-dial calls within the CIS are obtained by dialing 8 and waiting for another dial tone and then dialing the city code. Calls within the city limits are free of charge.
Mobile TelephoneRoaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone operators. Coverage is limited to populated areas.
InternetInternet cafes exist in Tashkent.
MediaPress freedom is guaranteed and a constitutional ban on censorship exists, but these are frequently ignored in Uzbekistan, where the state maintains a tight grip on the media. International media rights bodies have reported that the use of violence against journalists and disinformation by the authorities are commonplace. Pre-publication self-censorship remains widespread. Following deadly unrest in Andijan in 2005, journalists were expelled from the area and foreign TV news broadcasts were blocked. Private TV and radio stations broadcast alongside state-run networks. Foreign channels operate via cable TV, which is widely available.
PostLetters to Western Europe and the USA can take between two weeks and two months. Stamped envelopes can be bought from post offices. Addresses should be laid out in the following order: country, postcode, city, street, house number and, lastly, the person’s name. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800. The Main Post Office in Tashkent (see above) is open until 1900. Visitors can also use the post offices situated in the major hotels. There are a number of international courier services based in Tashkent.
Press There are no independent daily newspapers in Uzbekistan. The main editions are published in Tashkent and include
Khalk Suzi and
Narodnoye Slovo (in Russian and Uzbek),
Hurriyat (published by a Government agency) and
Uzbekistan Ovizi.
RadioThe
Uzbek State Television and Radio Company operates state-run radio services. Private stations include
Oriat FM,
Uzbegim Taronasi and
Radio Grand.
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.
2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
21 Mar Navruz (Persian New Year).
31 Mar Prophet’s Birthday.
1 May Labor Day.
9 May Day of Memory and Respect.
1 Sep Independence Day.
13 Oct Hait (End of Ramadan).
8 Dec Constitution Day.
20 Dec Qurban-Hait (Feast of the Sacrifice).
20081 Jan New Year’s Day.
8 Mar International Women’s Day.
20 Mar Prophet’s Birthday.
21 Mar Navruz (Persian New Year).
1 May Labor Day.
9 May Day of Memory and Respect.
1 Sep Independence Day.
2 Oct Hait (End of Ramadan).
8 Dec Constitution Day.
9 Dec Qurban-Hait (Feast of the Sacrifice).
NoteMuslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations.
Contact Information:Uzbektourism47 Horezmskaya Street, 700047 Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Tel: (71) 133 5414.
Website:
www.uzbektourism.uz Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the UK41 Holland Park, London W11 3RP, UK
Tel: (020) 7229 7679.
Website:
www.uzbekembassy.orgOpening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800; Mon-Wed and Fri 1000-1300 (consular section).
Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the USA1746 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1903, USA
Tel: (202) 887 5300.
Website:
www.uzbekistan.org Consulate General of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the USA801 2nd Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10017, USA
Tel: (212) 754 7403/4718.
Opening Hours: Mon-Wed 1000-1300; Thurs (collection of documents only).
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