After the news broke out on Friday morning that the Uzbek President Islam Karimov is in the critical situation after suffering a stroke, but now as per the news reports from Reuter informs that the President has died. “Yes, he has died,” one of the diplomatic sources said when asked about Karimov’s condition.
However, the Uzbek government did not immediately confirm the reports, as earlier on Friday it said in a statement that the health of Karimov, who has been in the hospital since last Saturday, had sharply deteriorated.
According to Reuters, three diplomatic sources informed them that Islam Karimov has passed away leaving no obvious successor to take over Central Asia’s most populous nation.Karimov did not designate a successor and analysts say the transition of power is likely to be decided behind closed doors by a small group of senior officials and family members. If they fail to agree on a compromise, however, the open confrontation could destabilise the nation of 32 million that has become a target for Islamist militants.
Islam Karimov had ruled Uzbekistan since 1989, but he was always been criticised for his authoritarian style of leadership by the West and human rights groups. Islam Karimov Ruled the Country as firstly as the boss of the local Communist Party and then as president of the newly independent republic from 1991. Uzbekistan is a major cotton exporter which is also rich in gold and natural gas.
