Real Uzbekistan

1. RealUzbekistan

2. Overview • Uzbekistan is a former USSR member, gained independence on the 31st of August, 1991, although the official holiday is celebrated on the 1st of September. • Officially Uzbekistan is a democratic republic. Although in reality the government is more of a Dictatorship. Our president Islam AbduganievichKarimov is a president from the year of 1990 and to the present day. He has been “reelected” three times in a row, each time extending his period.

3. Uzbekistan’s population is about: 30,000,000 people with a population density 61.4 people per km2. 50.5 % Male, and 49.5% female. Life expectancy is +/- 68 years.Although Uzbekistan has a secular government, Major religion is Islam. The sing of Islam, the moon is represented on the Uzbek flag, along with the 12 stars. 12 stars symbolize the 12 months of the year, also number 12 is a symbol of perfection. The colors on the flag. Light blue, white, and green. It also has 2 red lines between the three colors. Light blue color represents the blue sky and clear water, the color blue was also once chosen by Tarmashirin Khan (Tamerlane) on his flag. White color symbolizes peace and good luck. Green color represents a clear Uzbek nature and new life. Green also is a color of Islam. Red lines represent blood vanes which symbolize life force.

4. Government. Republic Of Uzbekistan is Democratic, although in reality It is a total dictatorship. Islam Karimov rules the country Since 1990 and he has been “reelected 3 times in a row, each time increasing histerm. After USSR collapsed most of the countries had a huge chaos, with “new businessmen” privatizing factories, Real estate, and other sources of Business which is not owned by Anyone. Uzbekistan’s racket level Was extremely low, the president took this under his control, and he completely banned racket In Uzbekistan. Private business was Growing in the 90’s, although after A certain level the president Decided to take all the business Under his control, and in the begging of 00’ he started to just take over companies And putting the large businessmen in prison with no real reasons.

5. Education • Education level in Uzbekistan has been changing overtime. It used to be same as Russian – 11 years of school and then University. Today it is 9 years of school, then 3 years of Lyceum (high school), so 12 years on mandatory school time. The material which is given to the students is hard and strong, but the way it is being taught does not make the education any good. Teachers are careless to the students, grading system is very corrupt, it is easy to buy a A+ on a test or final exam. Most of the schools and high schools are corrupt. Private schools are better, but they are not affordable for average citizens. Most of the people in Uzbekistan are very uneducated and do not know simple things.

6. Economy • Uzbekistan has a market-based economy. Our official currency is Uzbek So’m. We have two markets, black market and official market. The exchange rate gap between the two markets is very big: Official market- 1$ = 2,000 so’m. Black market – 1$ - 2900 so’m. Uzbekistan has a very restrictive trade regime with currency conversion not being allowed by the law. This does not allow foreign investors to enter our market and improve the economy. Banking system also needs lots of improvements. It is very unstable and people do not trust their money to the banks. Minimum salary in Uzbekistan is 60,000 so’m a month ($25 dollars). Proffesors at Universities make from 400,000 to 600,000 so’ms a month ($150-$200). It is pretty much impossible to live for this money, because the prices are keep going higher. Poverty level is extremely high!!!

7. Environment • Soviet Union left a big negative impact on our environment. Enough to look at the Aral Sea, which was dried of because there was not enough water coming in to the sea from the rivers SyrDarya and Amu darya. The water from those rivers was used for watering cotton plantations. Poor water management and heavy use of agrochemicals also have polluted the air. Salt and dust storms and the spraying of pesticides and defoliants for the cotton crop have led to severe degradation of air quality in rural areas. The government has acknowledged the environmental problems, and gave oral commitments to fix the problems, but never actually done it, YET.

11. National Security • Uzbekistan's National Security Service, is letting itself too much. They are trying to protect to the people, but the president. NSS (National Security Service) do not care about the people’s safety. Crimes which happen is Uzbekistan are not being broadcasted in the news, in order “not to create panic”. Websites like bbc, cnn, al jazeera, etc… are blocked in Uzbekistan, because they show what is really happening in Uzbekistan, and the government is afraid of panic among the citizens.

13. Human Rights • People have very few rights in Uzbekistan. Freedom of speech is just 3 words. People are not allowed to talk anything against the government, of in general talks about politics are being severely punished and people do so are being put in jail. It is impossible not to break laws in Uzbekistan. The government has created the laws so that it is impossible to follow them Everyone who goes against the law is being put in jail, and in order not to be put in jail they have to pay. Corruption and greed is the main problem in Uzbekistan.

14. Summary • All the promises form different organizations in helping the economy, the people etc…, is just trash talk. Nothing will change until we have a new president. People do not believe any promises because they had enough of them…