Recently, Shavkat Mirziyoev, who became the leader of Uzbekistan after the death of dictator Islam Karimov in September last year, issued an unusual order. Each family in rural areas throughout the country are now required to have at least 100 chickens.
Uzbekistan, with a population of 30 million people, the number of inhabitants ranks third among the 15 former republics of the Soviet Union.
The family needs to eat 10 of 50 eggs
Mirziyoev said that 100 hens each day will be postponed at least 50 eggs. Of this amount, the family itself can have ten, and the remaining 40 to sell.
“Then we won’t have poor families,” said Mirziyoev, speaking in the poor area of the country.
In addition, he said: “If we can convince people to follow this course, each person will live long.”
While his order led only to the fact that the network portals made fun of it, as the video shows Radiofreeеurope/radioliberty.
Predecessor Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov was, according to its many critics, a cruel despot. In the Index of democracy of the analytical centre Economist Intelligence Unit of Uzbekistan for several years held the bottom line. At the bottom of the recent list is North Korea, while Uzbekistan is in the list of 167 countries in the tenth place from the bottom.
Uzbekistan is not only one of the 15 former Soviet republics which, according to the democratic index, refers to the ten worst regimes in the world. They also include neighboring countries: Turkmenistan, where the dictator demands to publish his portrait every day in all the Newspapers of the country, and Tajikistan, where the dictator built the world’s highest mast for a flag.
Among the most closed countries in the world
In Uzbekistan there is no independent press, the country is considered one of the most closed in the world. In particular, journalists can get an entry permit to this country. In foreign policy the country is pursuing an isolationist course. Therefore, when Karimov of Uzbekistan was skeptical about the Moscow-led project of the free trade area Eurasian economic Union. In addition, Karimov of Uzbekistan twice and deduced from the Moscow-led organization of collective security Treaty, a military Alliance similar to NATO.
According to the Financial Times, it is believed that Mirziyoev is closer to Moscow and to Putin than Karimov. But, nevertheless, he was strongly in favour of isolationist policies of the country.
“Not joining any military-political blocs and rejection of foreign military bases or military facilities in Uzbekistan remains unchanged by the course of our country,” he said, according to the newspaper Financial Times, in his speech immediately after coming to power.
For several years many believed that Karimov will be replaced, most likely, his daughter Gulnara. But it fell out of favor after a quarrel with his mother and sister, and after was involved in a corruption scandal, in particular, with Telenor.
So in a few years Gulnara has been under house arrest. For this reason, it is not even allowed to have their father’s last journey.
He is less intelligent
Therefore, after the death of Karimov, who was 78, last autumn, came to power Mirziyoev, 59 years old. By the time Mirziyoev since 2003 held a post of the Prime Minister. According to the Financial Times and The Economist, it is unlikely Mirzaeva expect any big changes. “Meet the new (and more stringent) of the Uzbek leader,” wrote the Financial Times last fall.
“He is absolutely the same type of ruler, and Islam Karimov, can be even tougher, and I think he is less intelligent,” — said in an interview with the newspaper Daniil Kislov, editor of the independent newspaper “Fergana” with headquarters in Moscow.
The Economist calls Mirziyoyev clone Karimov and writes that he felt the same oppressive, and Karimov, “if not more”.
Violated the Constitution when he became President
The Constitution of Uzbekistan States that in the event of the death of the President this position is occupied by the President of the Senate. However, after the death of the President, the post occupied Mirziyoev. During the elections in December Mirziyoev got almost 89% of the votes. The Economist has called the elections “rigged”.
Poultry is an important part of Uzbekistan’s economy, which The Economist calls “the hopeless case”. Five years ago, Aftenposten talked about civil servants salary which was given to chickens.
“We had to get 10 Chicks,” said the teacher Odile, 32.
It seems that chicken is now the policy does not cause delight of the people. One of the residents, who refused to give his name, said in an interview with Radiofreeеurope/radioliberty that knows little about the poultry industry and expressed concern about the fact that he won’t have time for anything else, if it will hold 100 chickens.
