Uzbekistan

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Uzbekistan is a landlocked former Soviet republic located in Central Asia. It is known mainly for the historic Silk Road city of Samarkand and for being the birthplace of the infamous conqueror Tamerlane. It was the most populous and politically important republic in the region in the Soviet era. The president (dictator) since independence in 1991 is Islam Karimov, who is internationally famous for massacring hundreds of people in the city of Andijan in 2005 and occasionally boiling his political opponents alive. There is little fuss from Western governments, however, because Uzbekistan is willing to crush Islamist opposition, has huge supplies of oil and natural gas, and is strategically located for operations in the "War on Terror."

Karimov's daughter, Gulnara Karimova, had a career as a pop star (stage name "GooGoosha"), diplomat and businesseswoman. In a strange twist, Karimov had her placed under arrest.[1][2][3]

Herman Cain likes Uzbekistan so much he's added several syllables to its name.

[edit] Footnotes

  1. The strange story of Uzbekistan’s 'jailed princess'
  2. Uzbekistan's autocratic ruler may have found a way to silence his daughter
  3. Suspected Gulnara Karimova letter smuggled to BBC
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