Uzbekistan: Sting, Julio Iglesias Booted Off Tashkent Airwaves

Songs by Sting and Julio Iglesias have apparently been banned from radio play in Uzbekistan, an opposition website is reporting.

Sting has been embroiled in controversy in his native Britain for his decision to give a concert in 2009 in Uzbekistan, which features one of the world's most repressive governments. [For background see the Eurasia Insight archive]. In responding to the criticism, Sting defending his decision to play in Tashkent, while simultaneously criticizing President Islam Karimov as "hermetically sealed in his own medieval, tyrannical mindset." Sting reportedly received over $1 million to appear in Tashkent.

The decision to ban Sting's music in Uzbekistan appears to be a retaliatory move, prompted by his public criticism of the president, a report distributed by the Uznews.net website on March 16 said.

Julio Iglesias apparently drew the ire of Uzbek officials for reportedly giving a brief interview to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. The Uznews.net report indicated that Iglesias hung up when queried about his connection to Gulnara Karimova, the president's daughter. The pair performed a duet of "Besame Mucho" in Tashkent in 2008. [For video click here].