Islam Karimov was Uzbekistan's first and only president. He led the Central Asian country for more than 25 years, brushing off accusations of authoritarianism and brutality. For many citizens, Karimov represented stability. He defined what it meant to be an Uzbek. Karimov died this week, at the age of 78, after suffering a stroke. His funeral was held on Saturday in his hometown Samarkand.What comes next remains unclear. Elections will be held in the next few months, but given Uzbekistan's history, they aren'texpected to be free or fair. What will his death mean for Uzbekistan and the region?Presenter: Richelle CareyGuests:Peter Zalmayev, Director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative.Marcus Papadopoulos - Editor of Politics First Magazine.Andrew Stroehlein - European Media Director at Human Rights Watch.-
Uzbekistan confirmed that its President Islam Karimov, who led the republic in various capacities from 1989, has died. He led the gradual transition from a Soviet republic into a nationalist Islamic country, fighting poverty and radicalism.
