Uzbekistan was on the verge of civil war when Islam Karimov assumed the presidency. This was stated by his widow Tatyana Karimova at a conference held in memory of the first president in Samarkand on April 30.

“Islam Karimov stood at the helm of the state in a very difficult and contradictory period. It was a time when the republic was on the verge of civil war, interethnic and interfaith conflicts. The earth was literally blazing, and even some blood had already been shed. Uzbekistan needed a leader who would lead the country out of the existing chaos. He boldly assumed enormous responsibility,” she said.

According to her, the preservation and strengthening of the sovereignty and independence of Uzbekistan has always been the highest priority of President Karimov. “This became the fundamental principle of his policy,” Tatyana Karimova noted.

“Recent history of Uzbekistan, formation of its independence is inextricably linked with the life, activities and heritage of Islam Karimov, whose deep state thinking, ability to accurately calculate future steps for many years to come received recognition in Uzbekistan and far beyond its borders,” said the spouse of the first president. “Under the leadership of Islam Karimov, the national pride and dignity of the people, its rich history, culture and spiritual values were revived.”

The republican scientific conference “Islam Karimov - the Founder of the Independent Nation” was organized by the Memorial Complex named after the first president and the Karimov Foundation with the assistance of the regional khokimiyat of Samarkand and Samarkand State University. The conference brought together historians, political scientists, journalists and academics.

The event will be annual in nature and will be held in Islam Karimov’s hometown (Samarkand) every spring.