Mastering a Potemkin democracy: elections in Uzbekistan

President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan was re-elected after scoring 90 per cent of votes at the Uzbek general elections held on 29 March 2015. Like all the previous polls, this was a carefully orchestrated, ‘no-surprises’ election.

Since becoming the country’s first president in 1990, Karimov has mastered the art of creating a Façade democracy. Several cosmetic changes have been implemented in recent years, all designed to pretend to comply with international norms and standards, but in practice ridding the political system of all meaning. Meanwhile, a cloud hangs over the country’s economic prospects.