Uzbekistan holds election after long-time president’s death

People in Uzbekistan are casting their ballots in the presidential election following the death of long-time leader Islam Karimov in September.

Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 59, who spent 13 years as premier under Karimov, is widely expected to win the Sunday vote by a huge margin.

Mirziyoyev faces three rivals, namely Hotamjon Ketmonov, Narimon Umarov, and Sarvar Otamuratov. None of the three is considered to be a serious contender.

After Karimov’s death on September 2, Mirziyoyev was appointed interim president of the ex-Soviet country by the Supreme Assembly.

Karimov had been at the helm since 1990 until his death from a stroke at the age of 78.

Mirziyoyev served as governor of Jizzakh Region from 1996 to September 2001, then as governor of Samarqand Region from September 2001 until his appointment as prime minister in 2003.

He is a member of the Samarkand clan, one of two major clans in Uzbekistan. The other, its main rival, is the Tashkent clan.

His appointment as prime minister was without any visible tension, highlighting apparent approval by the clans.

Uzbekistan is a landlocked country, with Kazakhstan to the north, Tajikistan to the southeast, Kyrgyzstan to the northeast, Afghanistan to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southwest. It has a population of 30.5 million and its economy relies mainly on production of cotton, gold, uranium, and natural gas.

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