APresident · 1990 – 2016Independent states
Islam Karimov
Uzbekistan's first president (1938–2016), who declared independence in 1991 and led the country until his death.
Born in Samarkand, Islam Karimov was an engineer-economist who became First Secretary of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan in 1989 and president of the republic in March 1990. He declared Uzbekistan's independence on 31 August 1991 and won the presidential election that December.
Under him Uzbekistan decided to adopt a Latin-script alphabet, and the legacy of Amir Timur was elevated as a state symbol. He died on 2 September 2016 and is buried in Samarkand.
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Updated: October 4, 2026