Safari
02-28-2003, 02:56 AM
KARIMOV STRUGGLES TO PROTECT IMAGE IN UZBEKISTAN FOLLOWING INTERNET ATTACKS
2/25/03
President Islam Karimov has mobilized mass media in Uzbekistan for a propaganda battle following the publication of Russian-language articles that seriously damaged the Uzbek leader’s image. The articles, which first appeared on the internet, contained various allegations connecting Karimov to illicit activities, including drug trafficking. They also publicized unflattering details about his past.
The attacks on Karimov’s character – written under the name of Usman Khaknazarov and posted first on the Russian-language web site Centrasia.ru – began appearing in early January. The articles were subsequently re-posted by several other Russian-language web sites. The articles are full of details about the inner workings of the presidential administration. They also exhort Uzbeks to work to oust Karimov’s government.
“We shouldn’t demand the resolution of our immediate problems, we should demand the resignation of this criminal group of thieves and bandits [Karimov’s administration] – those who are chiefly responsible for our current problems,” one of the articles, published January 12, said.
Another article urged Uzbeks to spread the anti-Karimov message. “In our hands … is the most powerful weapon – the truth. Take the truth to the people,” an article published January 2 said. “In doing so, it’s not necessary to take to the streets and shout that Uzbekistan is run by a bunch of drug dealers and bandits; unfortunately, among the people there are many who are capable of betrayal. … Thus, begin to explain the truth to your friends and relatives.”
Since Uzbekistan gained independence, Karimov has progressively tightened restrictions on free speech. [For additional information see the EurasiaNet Human Rights archive]. Given the tight control of mass media, Uzbeks have little access to views and information not expressly condoned by the government. According to sources in Uzbekistan, the Khaknazarov articles have had a shocking impact on society and the allegations contained in them are widely perceived to be true. Although Uzbekistan has relatively few internet users – estimated at about 275,000 in 2002 – a source in Tashkent reports that samizdat photocopies have been widely circulated in large cities.
Among the most damaging claims contained in the articles is that Karimov played a significant role in facilitating the flow of narcotics out of Afghanistan via Uzbekistan to points in Europe and beyond. Separate articles have claimed that Karimov might be suffering from an unspecified terminal illness.
The Khaknazarov articles also dealt a serious blow to Karimov’s image by revealing embarrassing details about actions that, in recent years, the president has sought to conceal. One article particularly focused on Karimov’s conduct during the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The details in the web account offered a stark contrast to Karimov’s claims that he had always championed Uzbek independence.
“In March of 1991, the former Soviet leadership conducted a referendum in which the question was asked: should all union republics, including Uzbekistan, remain in the Soviet Union or not,” the January 12 article said. “When Uzbekistan’s young opposition movement called on the population to vote for independence … Islam Karimov, who subsequently characterized himself as a founding fighter for freedom of the Uzbek people, called for the republic not to split from the USSR. … He carried out Moscow’s order to arrange for a sufficient number of votes for the continuation of the Communist empire.”
After the failed August coup of 1991, however, Karimov quickly changed his position, the article continued. “In this situation, Karimov didn’t panic. He began trumpeting that he had been fighting for independence his whole life,” the article said.
Karimov’s reaction to the web attacks indicates that he views them as a serious threat to his authority. The articles come at a sensitive time for Uzbekistan. The country continues to experience economic trauma, stemming from the government’s move last summer to introduce punitive tariffs on imports. [For background see the EurasiaNet Human Rights archives]. In December, Uzbek officials tightened border controls in an effort to eliminate smuggling. [For additional information see the EurasiaNet Business and Economics archives]. Such actions have fueled popular discontent, political observers in Uzbekistan say.
A source in Tashkent reports that all web sites that published the Khaknazarov articles have been jammed, and are mostly inaccessible to Uzbeks. In addition, state-controlled television launched a barrage of documentaries aimed at extolling the virtues of Karimov’s leadership.
One such program, broadcast February 2, said Karimov’s primary aim is to ensure stability in Uzbekistan. “No one among the historic leaders of the last decade of the 20th Century has struggled for peace as courageously as President Karimov,” said the narrator of the program, titled “Strive for Peace.”
Another six-part documentary, the first installment of which aired January 20, appeared specifically designed to refute the allegation that Karimov had opposed independence in 1991. “People felt very disenchanted with the events related to the coup d’etat, which occurred August 19-21, 1991,” the documentary said. “These events showed that a vital need for independence had arisen. Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who realized this historical truth, started taking decisive steps towards gaining independence for our republic.”
In recent weeks, government controlled television has maintained a steady stream of programming promoting the president’s popularity. Local experts, however, say it is difficult to determine to what extent the state media campaign has controlled the damage done to Karimov’s image by the Khaknazarov articles.
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/articles/eav022503_pr.shtml
2/25/03
President Islam Karimov has mobilized mass media in Uzbekistan for a propaganda battle following the publication of Russian-language articles that seriously damaged the Uzbek leader’s image. The articles, which first appeared on the internet, contained various allegations connecting Karimov to illicit activities, including drug trafficking. They also publicized unflattering details about his past.
The attacks on Karimov’s character – written under the name of Usman Khaknazarov and posted first on the Russian-language web site Centrasia.ru – began appearing in early January. The articles were subsequently re-posted by several other Russian-language web sites. The articles are full of details about the inner workings of the presidential administration. They also exhort Uzbeks to work to oust Karimov’s government.
“We shouldn’t demand the resolution of our immediate problems, we should demand the resignation of this criminal group of thieves and bandits [Karimov’s administration] – those who are chiefly responsible for our current problems,” one of the articles, published January 12, said.
Another article urged Uzbeks to spread the anti-Karimov message. “In our hands … is the most powerful weapon – the truth. Take the truth to the people,” an article published January 2 said. “In doing so, it’s not necessary to take to the streets and shout that Uzbekistan is run by a bunch of drug dealers and bandits; unfortunately, among the people there are many who are capable of betrayal. … Thus, begin to explain the truth to your friends and relatives.”
Since Uzbekistan gained independence, Karimov has progressively tightened restrictions on free speech. [For additional information see the EurasiaNet Human Rights archive]. Given the tight control of mass media, Uzbeks have little access to views and information not expressly condoned by the government. According to sources in Uzbekistan, the Khaknazarov articles have had a shocking impact on society and the allegations contained in them are widely perceived to be true. Although Uzbekistan has relatively few internet users – estimated at about 275,000 in 2002 – a source in Tashkent reports that samizdat photocopies have been widely circulated in large cities.
Among the most damaging claims contained in the articles is that Karimov played a significant role in facilitating the flow of narcotics out of Afghanistan via Uzbekistan to points in Europe and beyond. Separate articles have claimed that Karimov might be suffering from an unspecified terminal illness.
The Khaknazarov articles also dealt a serious blow to Karimov’s image by revealing embarrassing details about actions that, in recent years, the president has sought to conceal. One article particularly focused on Karimov’s conduct during the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. The details in the web account offered a stark contrast to Karimov’s claims that he had always championed Uzbek independence.
“In March of 1991, the former Soviet leadership conducted a referendum in which the question was asked: should all union republics, including Uzbekistan, remain in the Soviet Union or not,” the January 12 article said. “When Uzbekistan’s young opposition movement called on the population to vote for independence … Islam Karimov, who subsequently characterized himself as a founding fighter for freedom of the Uzbek people, called for the republic not to split from the USSR. … He carried out Moscow’s order to arrange for a sufficient number of votes for the continuation of the Communist empire.”
After the failed August coup of 1991, however, Karimov quickly changed his position, the article continued. “In this situation, Karimov didn’t panic. He began trumpeting that he had been fighting for independence his whole life,” the article said.
Karimov’s reaction to the web attacks indicates that he views them as a serious threat to his authority. The articles come at a sensitive time for Uzbekistan. The country continues to experience economic trauma, stemming from the government’s move last summer to introduce punitive tariffs on imports. [For background see the EurasiaNet Human Rights archives]. In December, Uzbek officials tightened border controls in an effort to eliminate smuggling. [For additional information see the EurasiaNet Business and Economics archives]. Such actions have fueled popular discontent, political observers in Uzbekistan say.
A source in Tashkent reports that all web sites that published the Khaknazarov articles have been jammed, and are mostly inaccessible to Uzbeks. In addition, state-controlled television launched a barrage of documentaries aimed at extolling the virtues of Karimov’s leadership.
One such program, broadcast February 2, said Karimov’s primary aim is to ensure stability in Uzbekistan. “No one among the historic leaders of the last decade of the 20th Century has struggled for peace as courageously as President Karimov,” said the narrator of the program, titled “Strive for Peace.”
Another six-part documentary, the first installment of which aired January 20, appeared specifically designed to refute the allegation that Karimov had opposed independence in 1991. “People felt very disenchanted with the events related to the coup d’etat, which occurred August 19-21, 1991,” the documentary said. “These events showed that a vital need for independence had arisen. Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who realized this historical truth, started taking decisive steps towards gaining independence for our republic.”
In recent weeks, government controlled television has maintained a steady stream of programming promoting the president’s popularity. Local experts, however, say it is difficult to determine to what extent the state media campaign has controlled the damage done to Karimov’s image by the Khaknazarov articles.
http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/rights/articles/eav022503_pr.shtml