Islam Karimov is an outstanding figure in the politics of Uzbekistan, but at the same time very controversial. He has been working in the political field for a very long time (since the days of the Soviet Union). The biography of Islam Karimov is very remarkable in that he has been the president of the country for twenty-five years - every time he is re-elected to this post in the elections.
The birth and youth of Karimov
Islam Karimov is an Uzbek by his nationality. He was born in 1938, on the thirtieth of January, in the distant city of Samarkand. The biography of Islam Karimov is not simple. His father was a simple employee, and his mother was a housewife. For some time there were all kinds of rumors and speculations about his birth (for example, that he was not his fatherās son at all), but Karimov himself did not pay attention to it.
The childhood of the future president was difficult. The war and post-war years did not pamper children - there was everything. Then he went to school and in 1955 graduated from it, moreover, with a gold medal. Then the university was waiting for him.
The academic years of the future President of Uzbekistan and his subsequent career
Karimov entered the Central Asian Polytechnic Institute immediately after school and acquired the specialty of a mechanical engineer. It was a fairly popular and necessary profession at that time. Graduation came in 1960 and immediately Islam Karimov, President of Uzbekistan in the future, went to work at the Tashkent Agricultural Engineering Plant. He began his career as an assistant master.
Then, in 1961, he became the leading design engineer of the Tashkent Aviation Production Association. In this position he stayed until 1966.
Karimov also received another education - economic. In 1967, he graduated from the evening department of the Tashkent Institute of National Economy.
Coming into politics
The political activity of the current President of Uzbekistan began in 1966, when he began to work in the State Planning Committee of the Uzbek SSR. Then, since 1983, he was appointed Minister of Finance of the Uzbek SSR. In this position, he worked for three years and already in 1986 was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Uzbek SSR and Chairman of the State Planning Commission.
On this, of course, Karimovās political career did not end, but continued and continues to this day. Therefore, some people ask the question āHow old is Islam Karimov?ā He has been in politics for so long that it seems that a country is inconceivable without his administration. But today he is already seventy-seven years old.
Karimovās political career
The flowering of the political career of the Uzbek leader began in 1986, when he was appointed to the post of First Secretary of the Kashdarya regional party committee. Some consider this period of Karimovās work the most worthy. Then he established himself as a decent and incorruptible person, and also gained the necessary authority. He served in this position until June 1989, when he was appointed First Secretary of the Communist Party Central Committee. At this post, he performed a series of actions, as a result of which he won the trust of the people of Uzbekistan, as well as the country's elite (for example, the revival of Islam, etc.).
On this, the biography of Islam Karimov is undergoing significant changes (as well as many other Soviet citizens). The country of the USSR after some time ceases to exist, and new orders come into being, in the establishment of which Karimov takes an active part.
Presidency
For the first time, Karimov was elected president in March, twenty-fourth, 1990. This was not a popular election, but a vote at a session of the Supreme Council. The elections, where the people showed their will about the presidential candidates, were held in December 1991. Won, of course, and the current ruler of the country. Now Islam Karimov is the President of Uzbekistan legally.
In 1995, a referendum was held, as a result of which the presidential powers were extended until 2000. And in January 2000, new presidential elections were held, in which Karimov won again. And to this day, he does not withdraw his authority, continuing to rule the country.
Elections in the country were held two more times (in December 2007 and in March 2015), and each time Karimov was re-elected for a new term.
Of course, anything happened during his tenure as president. In 2006, in the Parade magazine, Karimov was recognized as one of the most powerful dictators. Also, more than once appeared in the press notes on the brutality of the president towards some people and harsh statements.
It should be noted that during his reign there have been conflicts. For example, Muslim leaders went to a new level, which led to terrorist attacks in Tashkent. The president responded harshly to these actions - mass arrests were carried out, and after that special troops āGuardians of the Mahallaā were formed. Also in the already post-Soviet era, an attempt was made on Islam Karimov (photo below). This happened in February 1999 in the main square of Tashkent. The president himself was not injured, but that day sixteen people died and one hundred and fifty were hospitalized (including from Karimovās entourage).
More recently, there have been rumors that Islam Karimov fell into a coma, and just before the elections themselves. This is not officially confirmed, so nothing can be said for sure.
Books written by Islam Karimov
Over his long life, Karimov has authored several political books. In terms of volume, it is a ten-volume collection. It includes the following books:
- "Uzbekistan is its own model of transition to market relations."
- "Uzbekistan is about to enter the 21st century."
- "Uzbekistan: its path of renewal and progress."
- "High spirituality is an invincible force."
- "Uzbekistan on the path to deepening economic reform" and others.
All books of Islam Karimov have a narrow focus. It is noticeable in them that he is not indifferent to the fate of his native country. Karimov has fairly extensive political knowledge that can be passed on to the next generation.
Family life
The presidentās personal and family life is quite eventful. He is married a second time (the first wife died), from the first Karimov has a son, Peter. The second wife of the president of Uzbekistan is Tatyana Karimova. She is an economist by education, but is now retired.
The family of Islam Karimov is quite numerous. In addition to his son, he has two daughters, who are not alien to politics (especially the eldest - Gulnara). The youngest daughter Lola for some time worked at UNESCO as a representative from Uzbekistan. Gulnara, in 2010-2011, held the post of ambassador of Uzbekistan to Spain.
A major scandal was once associated with Karimov's first daughter, as a result of which she was suspended from politics, removed her immunity, and blocked her Twitter page. Gulnara, the daughter of Islam Karimov, was embroiled in an ugly money laundering story and is currently under house arrest, although before that she had been predicted to be the successor of her father. By the way, the sisters do not talk and do not communicate at all for twelve years. According to Lola, they are completely different people, with a different worldview, and they just have nothing to talk about.
Islam Karimov also has five grandchildren. The two children of Gulnara are the sons Iman and Islam Maksudi, and the three children of Lola are the daughters Maryam and Safia and the son Umar.
Awards and titles received by Islam Karimov
The biography of Islam Karimov is replete with the facts of the awarding of numerous awards, the account of which began in the days of the Soviet Union. Karimov has two orders - āFriendship of Peoplesā and āRed Banner of Laborā.
He also received special awards of Uzbekistan - orders:
- āFor outstanding servicesā (or āBuyuk hizmatlari uchunā);
- āHero of Uzbekistanā;
- āAmir Temurā;
- "Mustakillik."
There are also many other awards, for example:
- Order of the Golden Fleece;
- Order of the Golden Eagle;
- Knight of the Grand Cross, on the chain of which is the Order of the Three Stars;
- Cisneros Medal;
- Order of Stara Planina;
- Order of Merit, I degree;
- medal āFor peace and harmony between peoplesā (a prize was also relied on it), etc.
Islam Karimov also has honorary titles. For instance:
- Honorary Citizen of Seoul;
- Honorary Professor of Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov;
- Honorary Doctor of Fontis University et al.
Latest news on politics and the current President of Uzbekistan
So, as was said above, Karimov has been single-handedly ruling the country for twenty-five years. Islam Karimov how old is today? Answering this question, we can say that a lot. This year he turned seventy-seven years old.
Today it is believed that with the departure of Karimov from power, there will be an aggravation of the struggle between the clans.
To all this, rumors that Islam Karimov fell into a coma add fuel to the fire. This information, as was written above, is not confirmed. However, the presidentās poor health is an obvious fact.
Conclusion
Despite the fact that the health of Islam Karimov is already rather poor (nevertheless, his age is pretty solid), he continues to rule his state with dignity and make political decisions. Today, he is the oldest leader from those countries that were formed after the collapse of the Soviet Union. As mentioned above, Islam Karimov has been the president of the country for more than a quarter of a century.
There were a lot of things during the time that he was at the highest political post in Uzbekistan. Not all actions of Karimov were approved, but his high authority among the residents is obvious. Not in vain, after all, he received many awards both in his country and abroad.