Speaking at theUCLA International Institute conference on the Middle East, May 27, 2005.
Uzbekistan, Olcott commented “is a deadly situation, a tragedy.” There is widespread public dissatisfaction over the economy and the dictatorship that drives people into the streets even though they are being shot at by the government. “There are no secular opposition groups capable of mobilization. A successful dictator destroys such groups and Karimov has done that. There is a religious opposition and a small group of al Qaeda trainees. I am not too optimistic about opposition’s chances in Uzbekistan.”
Comments on this entry are closed.