Uzbekistan and Western Human Rights Policy

Worsening conditions in Afghanistan have led America (through NATO) to once again engage with Uzbekistan.

1. History of relations

Readers will remember that the West (and America in particular) had engaged seriously with Uzbekistan during the post 9/11 buildup to the invasion of Afghanistan (Uzbekistan became a critical base for American warplanes). however, this accord broke down after America and the West widely criticized Uzbekistan for the human rights violations that accompanied the Andizhan massacre in 2005. This had led Karimov, the Uzbek President, to expel the Americans from the base in Uzbekistan and move more closely to Russia and China (partly facilitated by the Shanghai COoperation Organization). However, since that break down of relations, in the last year both the West and Karimov have had an increased dialogue.

2. Why? What has changed? Why have relations improved?

Reuters attributes this to an attempt to promote democracy:

"The West has stepped up contacts with Uzbekistan over the past year, hoping dialogue would lead the nation towards more democracy. U.S. Admiral William Fallon visited Tashkent in January in a first high-level attempt to mend ties since 2005."

I disagree. More likely, this is a realization by NATO and America that the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan is more important to their national interest than the human rights record of Uzbekistan. Indeed, there have been few - if any - moves by Uzbekistan to increase its pitiful human rights record since the dialogue began.

"I want to create a holiday atmosphere. There will be music playing everywhere. "

You'd hardly know it but the Russian Presidential elections are tomorrow, Sunday March 2nd. The most intriguing part of the day will be the turnout - what percentage of Russians will turn out and vote knowing that Dmitry Medvedev will be the next President?

One of the state owned television stations is running a story about the different attractions that are being offered at different polling stations to encourage Russians to come out and vote.

Here are a few of them:

1. In St. Petersburg, voters will get free disks and books signed by Russian actors, singers, and sportsmen.

2. In the Samara Oblast, they will be showing cartoons about heros going to vote at the polling stations in order to encourage parents with small children to come. They will also be handing out free scarfs to the children.

3. In Nizhnyi Novgorod, they will be entering people who vote into a lottery to win a new car. What car, you ask? Nothing less than the pride of the Russian automobile industry: a new Volga.

4. In Khaborovsk, every voter will be given a token which they will then be able to give to their children. The children will then bring this to school and the teachers will collect them. The school that collects the most will get a free excursion to the theater and will be recognized in the newspaper.

5. In Kazan, they will open a polling station in the major train station there where thousands of people will be traveling.

6. In Kaliningrad, all public transport will be free for the day. One of the authorities in Kaliningrad said "I want to create a holiday atmosphere. There will be music playing everywhere. "

7. In Sochi, voters will also be voting for the mascot for the Winter Olympic Games in 2014.

8. In Karachaevo-Cherkisia, all voters will get free haircuts.

9. Finally, for those who don't turn on the tv, radio, open the window, or read the newspaper, every mobile phone subscriber in Russia will receive a text message saying "Everyone to the polling stations!"