.

• Names:
  


conventional long form:
Republic of Uzbekistan


conventional short form:
Uzbekistan


local long form:
Uzbekiston Respublikasi


local short form:
none


former:
Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic


• Digraph:
  
UZ


• Type:
  
republic


• Capital:
  
Tashkent (Toshkent)


• Administrative divisions:
  
12 wiloyatlar (singular - wiloyat), 1 autonomous republic* (respublikasi), and 1 city** (shahri); Andijon Wiloyati, Bukhoro Wiloyati, Jizzakh Wiloyati, Farghona Wiloyati, Qoraqalpoghiston* (Nukus), Qashqadaryo Wiloyati (Qarshi), Khorazm Wiloyati (Urganch), Namangan Wiloyati, Nawoiy Wiloyati, Samarqand Wiloyati, Sirdaryo Wiloyati (Guliston), Surkhondaryo Wiloyati (Termiz), Toshkent Shahri**, Toshkent Wiloyati


note:
an administrative division has the same name as its administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)


• Independence:
  
31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)


• National holiday:
  
Independence Day, 1 September (1991)


• Constitution:
  
new constitution adopted 8 December 1992


• Legal system:
  
evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks independent judicial system


• Suffrage:
  
18 years of age; universal


• Executive branch:
  


chief of state:
President Islam KARIMOV (since NA March 1990); election last held 29 December 1991 (next to be held NA); results - Islam KARIMOV 86%, Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%; note - a 26 March 1995 referendum extended KARIMOV's term until 2000 (99.6% approval)


head of government:
Prime Minister Abdulhashim MUTALOV (since 13 January 1992), First Deputy Prime Minister Ismail DJURABEKOV (since NA); Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN, Bakhtiyar HAMIDOV, Kayim KHAKKULOV, Yuriy PAYGIN, Saidmukhtar SAIDKASYMOV, Utkur SULTANOV, Mirabror USMANOV, Murat SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA)


cabinet:
Cabinet of Ministers; appointed by the president with approval of the Supreme Assembly


• Legislative branch:
  
unicameral


Supreme Council:
elections last held 25 December 1994 (next to be held NA); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (250 total) People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland Progress Party 12, other 31; note - final runoffs were held 22 January 1995; seating was as follows: People's Democratic Party 69, Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local government 120


• Judicial branch:
  
Supreme Court


• Political parties and leaders:
  
People's Democratic Party (PDP; formerly Communist Party), Islam A. KARIMOV, chairman; Fatherland Progress Party (FPP), Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman; Social Democratic Party, Anvar JORABAYEV, chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party (EDP), Muhammad SOLIKH, chairman (in exile); note - EDP was banned 9 December 1992


• Other political or pressure groups:
  
Birlik (Unity) People's Movement (BPM), Abdul Rakhim PULATOV, chairman (in exile); Islamic Rebirth Party (IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman; Adolat-94 (formed by former Vice President Shukhrat MIRSAIDOV and Ibragim BURIEV


note:
PULATOV (BPM) is in exile in the West; UTAYEV (IRP) is either in prison or in exile


• Member of:
  
AsDB, CCC, CIS, EBRD, ECE, ECO, ESCAP, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFC, ILO, IMF, INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, NACC, NAM, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO


• Diplomatic representation in US:
  


chief of mission:
Ambassador Fatikh TESHABAYEV


chancery:
(temporary) Suites 619 and 623, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005


telephone:
[1] (202) 638-4266, 4267


FAX:
[1] (202) 638-4268


consulate(s) general:
New York


• US diplomatic representation:
  


chief of mission:
Ambassador Henry L. CLARKE


embassy:
82 Chilanzarskaya, Tashkent


mailing address:
use embassy street address


telephone:
[7] (3712) 77-14-07, 77-10-81


FAX:
[7] (3712) 77-69-53


• Flag:
  
three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and green separated by red fimbriations with a crescent moon and 12 stars in the upper hoist-side quadrant.