Uzbekistan

After nearly a week of doubt, it became clear that long time leader Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan had finally died. Since independence in 1991 from the former Soviet Union, he ruled the predominately secular country with an iron hand. Karimov had maintained sway over this Central Asian nation, since his appointment to power by the communist leadership in 1989. President Karimov has dominated the political arena in Uzbekistan for 27 years. Despite a two term constitutional limit, he was returned to office […]