A powerful earthquake registering 6.2 on the Richter scale struck Ferghana Valley early July 20, affecting Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The epicenter of the quake was about 45 kilometers south of the Uzbek city of Ferghana.
For Saidulla, a shop owner at Tashkent's Farkhad Bazaar, Independence Day ceremonies in years past have produced trifling hassles, including heightened police security, cordoned-off streets and a slowdown in customer traffic. This year, however, as authorities plan to celebrate Uzbekistan's 20th anniversary of independence, many Tashkent residents are paying a much higher price.
New construction, large-scale demolitions, building refurbishments, and street closings are reconfiguring Uzbekistan’s capital, Tashkent. Consistent with President Islam Karimov’s penchant for opaque policy-making, officials have not offered an explanation for the timing and the scope of recent urban renewal efforts.
