Data code: UZ
Government type: republic; effectively authoritarian presidential rule, with little power outside the executive branch; executive power concentrated in the presidency
Capital: Tashkent (Toshkent)
Administrative divisions:
12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati
note:
administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)
Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992
Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state:
President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet)
head of government:
Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since 21 December 1995) and 10 deputy prime ministers
cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly
elections:
president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 9 January 2000 (next to be held NA January 2005); note - extension of President KARIMOV's original term for an additional five years overwhelmingly approved - 99.6% of total vote in favor - by national referendum held 26 March 1995); prime minister and deputy ministers appointed by the president
election results:
Islom KARIMOV reelected president; percent of vote - Islom KARIMOV 91.9%, Abdulkhafiz DZHALALOV 4.2%
Legislative branch:
unicameral Supreme Assembly or Oliy Majlis (250 seats; members elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held 5 December 1999 (next to be held NA December 2004)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - NDP 32, Fidokorlar 19, Fatherland Progress Party 9, Adolat Social Democratic Party 9, MTP 6, local government 98, initiative groups 11, other 66
note:
not all seats in the last Supreme Assembly election were contested; all parties in the Supreme Assembly support President KARIMOV
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly
Political parties and leaders: Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party [Turgunpulat DAMINOV, first secretary]; Democratic National Rebirth Party (Milly Tiklanish) or MTP [Ibrahim GAFUROV, chairman]; Fatherland Progress Party (Vatan Tarakiyoti) or VTP [Anvar YULDASHEV, chairman]; People's Democratic Party or NDP (formerly Communist Party) [Abdulkhafiz JALOLOV, first secretary]; Self-Sacrificers Party or Fidokorlar [Erkin NORBOTAEV, general secretary]
Political pressure groups and leaders: Birlik (Unity) Movement [Abdurakhim PULATOV, chairman]; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party [Muhamd SOLIH, chairman] was banned 9 December 1992; Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Abdumanob PULATOV, chairman]; Independent Human Rights Society of Uzbekistan [Mikhail AROZINOV, chairman]
International organization participation: AsDB, CCC, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, NAM, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO?, WTrO (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Sadyk SAFAYEV
chancery:
1746 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20036
telephone:
[1] (202) 887-5300
FAX:
[1] (202) 293-6804
consulate(s) general:
New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Joseph A. PRESEL
embassy:
82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent 700115
mailing address:
use embassy street address; US Embassy Tashkent, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-7110
telephone:
[998] (71) 120-5450
FAX:
[998] (71) 120-6335
Flag description: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a white crescent moon and 12 white stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant