The funeral of the leader
On Saturday in Samarkand was held the funeral of longtime President Islam Karimov, who led the country since 1989. As reported by the Uzbek Cabinet of Ministers, he died on Friday night in the 79th year of life.
In published on the website of Cabinet medical report States that he was taken to the Central clinical hospital of Tashkent on 27 August in the morning in an unconscious state. Studies, including computed tomography of the brain revealed he had a stroke. Occurred cardiac arrest, but resuscitation for 20 minutes, allowed to restore it. Neurological condition of the patient from the beginning was characterized as atonic coma. In the course of intensive therapy the patient was growing dysfunction of internal organs (cardiovascular, pulmonary and coagulation system, kidneys, liver) — multi-organ failure. Treatment by leading world experts, not helped by Friday’s heart stopped.
A medical report confirmed appeared last week information that Karimov advised Leo Bokeria, Director of the Scientific center of cardiovascular surgery named after A. N. Bakulev. Also worked in Tashkent academician Alexander Potapov — Director of Scientific center of neurosurgery named after N. N. Burdenko, were also invited leading experts from Hanover, Monaco, Heidelberg, Finland.
Karimov was buried near the graves of his mother and brothers in the memorial complex Shah-I-Zinda. First, the funeral cortege drove through the streets of Tashkent, its route lined with people, throw under the wheels of the hearse the flowers.
Gathering of neighbors
At the farewell ceremony was attended by representatives of 20 foreign countries and international organizations. Was attended by family members, but journalists are not noticed at the ceremony the elder daughter — Gulnara, which is already two years does not appear in public. Previously, she has opened several criminal cases abroad and at home, there were rumors about her rift with father and mother.
Uzbekistan when Karimov pursued a multi-vector foreign policy, developing relations with Russia and with the United States and China. Relations with neighboring countries — Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan — is not easy: accompanied by territorial and energy disputes.
The Russian delegation was headed by Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. As told the press Secretary of the President Dmitry Peskov, the Russian side was looking for ways to trip of President Vladimir Putin, but this proved impossible because of the schedule — the President was busy at the Eastern economic forum and the summit in China. For the same reason are unable to come, many other heads of state, including President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Of presidents the ceremony was attended by President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Ministers were represented Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. China was represented by Vice-Premier of the state Council Zhang gaoli.
The bride successors
The powers of the President as required by the Constitution, went to the President of the Senate Nigmatulla Yuldasheva. Presidential elections under the Constitution must be held within three months. The head of the funeral Commission was appointed Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev, who is called the most probable next candidate for President.
And mirzijaev in the memorial day held separate meeting, Zhang gaoli and Dmitry Medvedev. At the memorial meeting, Medvedev said that Russia and Uzbekistan will continue to strengthen relations, “embodying the precepts of the first President of the country.” Mirziyaev said that Karimov and Putin, “was absolutely other relations. “But the Foundation that they laid, I think we will strengthen”, — said the Prime Minister. “We still have to strengthen our Alliance. You said you were ready for it, and we’re ready,” said mirzijaev.
When Karimov of Uzbekistan withdrew from the military organization CSTO, which includes Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, as well as did not seek to join the Eurasian economic Union, although the Union’s membership would have allowed the Uzbek labor migrants work in Russia on simplified conditions. According to the Russian expert Ajdar kurtova, a change of the head of state will not lead to a sharp reversal in foreign policy.
The absence at the funeral of Gulnara Karimova, which was previously named among the possible successors of the father, does not necessarily mean that it is completely excluded from the political process, says the expert on Central Asia Arkady Dubnov. What mirzijaev headed the Commission for the funeral, most likely, means that he will participate in the elections, experts say. Among the possible successors to Karimov also called Deputy Prime Minister Rustam Azimov and Chairman of the national security Service Rustam Inoyatova. Asimov was at the funeral that shows that he’s still in the cage and can maintain its position, and Inoyatov is likely not interested in to occupy other post but will remain as a demiurge of the Uzbek policy, predicts Dubnov.
In Russia and in the world said about Karimov
Until the official announcement of the death of Karimov, the Russian state media was limited to official messages. RIA Novosti, TASS and Interfax quoted a message from the Uzbek government (there were two in the week since the announcement about the deteriorating health of Karimov) and comments of the Kremlin. Once, after the message of the Agency “Fergana” about the death of Karimov on 29 August, “the RIA Novosti and Interfax gave the rebuttal, citing sources in the Uzbek government. Russian television briefly aired in news stories about the official review of the Uzbek authorities and the Kremlin. This is the internal policy of the Russian state media, said the source in one of the news agencies: “the news is serious, so it was decided to refer only to official communications”.
After the announcement of the death of Karimov Prime Minister Medvedev at the memorial meeting called Islam Karimov “an outstanding statesman, a man who gave all his life to the service of his people.” The same characteristics were given Karimov in the subjects of Russian state media, telling of the death of the Uzbek leader.
Funeral Karimov live Russian state TV channels showed. In the news stories of TV channel “Russia 24” information about the funeral on Saturday was after reports about the Typhoon in Primorye and Eastern economic forum. In the story of Karimov commented on its role in the development of independent Uzbekistan. In the report, “Vesti on Saturday” on TV channel “Russia 1” also commented on the outstanding merits Karimov, hundreds of thousands of people that came to say goodbye to him, showed the people in the procession, who called the deceased “father”. That the media have criticized Karimov for the opposition, told the TV channel “Mir”, without giving explanations.
On criticism of the regime focused Western media. British broadcaster BBC reports it notes that, according to human rights activists, he retained his power, creating one of the most oppressive regimes in the world, where thousands of his opponents were in prison, were restricted freedom of the press, and torture became part of the system of justice. International human rights organization Amnesty International in its report last year referred again to torture by the law enforcement bodies suffered by the detainees. Media in the country are proprietary, specified in the reports of Freedom House.
