The observance of Uzbekistan’s independence from the Soviet Union is commemorated on September 1 as the country’s Independence Day. Uzbekistan, also known as the Republic of Uzbekistan, is a double landlocked country in Central Asia with Tashkent as its capital and largest metropolis. It shares borders with Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. It is a secular nation with a presidential government and approximately 35.3 million inhabitants. The environment of Uzbekistan has suffered tremendously as a result of Soviet policies to rapidly increase cotton production without conducting adequate environmental studies.
The background of Uzbekistan Independence Day
Uzbekistan’s history encompasses several thousand years and is divided into three periods: before the Soviet Union, during the Soviet Union, and after the Soviet Union. The country’s influence can be traced back to the first century B.C., when it was part of the silk route connecting China and the Middle East. In the seventh and eighth centuries, the region was conquered by the Arabs. In the subsequent centuries, Persian and Turkish influence expanded, but by the nineteenth century, the independent Uzbek states of Bukhara, Kokand, and Samarkand arose. At that time, however, Islam was the predominant religion in the region.
The Russian conquest lasted from the 1860s until 1990. In the 1870s, Russia had conquered Tashkent and absorbed extensive portions of Central Asia. In 1917, the Bolsheviks began their methodical conquest of Turkestan, Bukhara, and Khiva, which lasted until 1920. The communist rulers conducted the secularisation campaign from 1918 to 1922. In 1924, a reorganisation of Soviet states led to the formation of Uzbekistan and its neighbouring nations. During this time period, conflicts with minority ethnic groups became commonplace.
Islam Karimov ascended to the leadership of the Uzbek Communist Party in 1989. In 1991, he was able to declare Uzbekistan’s independence and bring it into the community of independent nations. The nation faced threats from Islamic terrorists and civil unrest in 2004 following its independence. The political and ecological crisis still haunts the country, but despite all odds, the people have managed to persevere, demonstrating the Central Asian spirit.
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5 Interesting Uzbekistan Facts
In 2017, the Uzbek currency became entirely convertible at market rates.
Uzbekistan is the largest producer of electricity in Central Asia.
Uzbekistan is a member of the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The snow leopard is the Uzbek national animal.
There are over 62,000 Uzbeks in the United States.
UZBEKISTAN INDEPENDENCE DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2023 | September 1 | Friday |
2024 | September 1 | Sunday |
2025 | September 1 | Monday |
2026 | September 1 | Tuesday |
2027 | September 1 | Wednesday |