Events in Andizhan to Promote Uzbekistan's Rapprochement with Russia

RIA Novosti

MOSCOW - The events in Andizhan will make Uzbek President Islam Karimov revise geopolitical priorities in Russia's favor, chairman of the Russian Federation Council (parliament's upper house) international affairs committee Mikhail Margelov told RIA Novosti on Tuesday.

"Till recently, Uzbekistan was one of the most pro-American countries in Central Asia, however, the United States failed or did not want to protect the Karimov government from the terrorist threat. In my opinion, Uzbekistan will search for new partners who can provide regional stability," Margelov said.

"Apart from internal consequences, the events in Andizhan will have a significant geopolitical effect," the senator noted.

He expressed hope that the Uzbek leadership would avoid purges and repressions against civilians.

According to Margelov, such events often result in general toughening of the regime and Uzbekistan is facing this danger.

"Uzbekistan's ability to stop the provocation is an important regional success given the fact that the country is a key Central Asian member of the anti-terrorist coalition," the senator stressed.

Andizhan, a city in Uzbekistan's east, saw public disorders in the small hours of Friday, May 13. The suppression of unrests left 169 people killed, according to the Uzbek Prosecutor. However, the opposition points to over 700 victims.

The situation in the Andizhan region and in the republic on the whole is stable, a source in the Uzbek Interior Ministry told RIA Novosti.