ABSTRACT
Tashkent's handling of anti-government protests and violence in the city of Andijon on 13 May 2005 has generated enormous controversy and had significant political repercussions. On 13 May 2005, Uzbekistan's Ferghana Valley city of Andijon staged the largest and most determined challenge to the government of the independent republic's hitherto only president, Islam Karimov. Islam Karimov has been president of Uzbekistan since independence in 1991, and in this capacity has published numerous books that are generally collections of speeches. Islam Karimov's book, The Uzbek people will never be dependent upon anyone, presents his understanding of the Andijon incident. It contains the transcripts of three press conferences and question and answer sessions with journalists, held on 14, 17 and 25 May 2005, conferences that were partially aimed at foreign journalists. President Karimov's framing of the Andijon incident is undertaken with an acute awareness that his version is pitted against rival interpretations in the foreign media.
