Independence Day ( uz, O'zbekiston Respublikasi Mustaqilligi kuni) is an official national holiday in
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
, celebrated on the first of September.
fireworks, concerts, competitions,
military parades
A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as drilling or marching. The military parade is now almost entirely ceremonial, though soldiers from time immemorial up until the lat ...
, and wreath laying ceremonies are held in
Tashkent
Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of ...
during the independence day celebrations.
Background
In 1991, the
August Coup
August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars, and the fifth of seven months to have a length of 31 days. Its zodiac sign is Leo and was originally named ''Sextilis'' in Latin because it was the 6th month in ...
in the Soviet capital of
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
caused many Soviet republics to declare their independence from the
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen national ...
. President of the
Uzbek SSR
Uzbekistan (, ) is the common English name for the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Uzbek SSR; uz, Ўзбекистон Совет Социалистик Республикаси, Oʻzbekiston Sovet Sotsialistik Respublikasi, in Russian: Уз ...
,
Islam Karimov
Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov ( uz, Islom Abdugʻaniyevich Karimov / Ислом Абдуғаниевич Каримов, italics=no; russian: link=no, Ислам Абдуганиевич Каримов; 30 January 1938 – 2 September 2016) was t ...
declared
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
independent from the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
on 31 August 1991. That same day, the
Supreme Soviet of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on the declaration of
independence
Independence is a condition of a person, nation, country, or state in which residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory. The opposite of independence is the statu ...
of the Republic of Uzbekistan and a law on the state independence of Uzbekistan. Once the laws were signed by Karimov, the
Uzbek SSR
Uzbekistan (, ) is the common English name for the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic (Uzbek SSR; uz, Ўзбекистон Совет Социалистик Республикаси, Oʻzbekiston Sovet Sotsialistik Respublikasi, in Russian: Уз ...
was renamed to the
Republic of Uzbekistan
A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
The next day was then declared a national holiday, and a day off from work by the government.
Celebratory history
1992
In 1992, Independence Day was celebrated for the first time. The film Istiqlol (''Independence'') directed by Davron Salimov was shown in cinemas in
Tashkent
Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of ...
. President
Islam Karimov
Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov ( uz, Islom Abdugʻaniyevich Karimov / Ислом Абдуғаниевич Каримов, italics=no; russian: link=no, Ислам Абдуганиевич Каримов; 30 January 1938 – 2 September 2016) was t ...
delivered a speech at the evening event on Independence Square in the Uzbek capital.
1996
It honoured the 5th anniversary of independence. It was on this year that President Karimov awarded the title of
Hero of Uzbekistan
Hero of Uzbekistan ( uz, Oʻzbekiston qahramoni, Cyrillic Ўзбекистон қаҳрамони) is the highest national award in the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is awarded to citizens of Uzbekistan and non-citizens for merit to the country. The ...
for the first time.
2016
2016 celebrated the 25th jubilee anniversary of independence. Uzbek President
Islam Karimov
Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov ( uz, Islom Abdugʻaniyevich Karimov / Ислом Абдуғаниевич Каримов, italics=no; russian: link=no, Ислам Абдуганиевич Каримов; 30 January 1938 – 2 September 2016) was t ...
, who was hospitalized during the anniversary, would pass away in
Tashkent
Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of ...
the next day. Karimov's annual independence day speech was read on TV by a presenter.
2018
On the eve of the 27th anniversary of independence in 2018, government authorities for the first time decided not impose restrictions on the admission of citizens of
Tajikistan
Tajikistan (, ; tg, Тоҷикистон, Tojikiston; russian: Таджикистан, Tadzhikistan), officially the Republic of Tajikistan ( tg, Ҷумҳурии Тоҷикистон, Jumhurii Tojikiston), is a landlocked country in Centr ...
at the border crossings.
2021
2021 saw celebrations in honor of the 30th anniversary of independence, the main celebrations of which were held in the newly created Yangi Uzbekiston Park and a settlement adjacent to
Tashkent
Tashkent (, uz, Toshkent, Тошкент/, ) (from russian: Ташкент), or Toshkent (; ), also historically known as Chach is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan. It is the most populous city in Central Asia, with a population of ...
. The 30th Anniversary Monument, funded by a Turkish company, was opened on the date.
Places in Uzbekistan honoring independence day
![Tashkent-uzbekistan-feve](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Tashkent-uzbekistan-feve.jpg)
*
Mustaqillik Maydoni
Independence Square ( uz, Mustaqillik Maydoni, Мустақиллик Майдони) is a central square of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Introduction
After the proclamation of Uzbekistan's independence in September 1991, "Lenin Square" was renamed in ...
*
Monument to the Independence of Uzbekistan
The Monument to the Independence of Uzbekistan is a Tashkent monument made in honor of the independence of Uzbekistan. At the top of the monument is a metal sphere ornamented with an ornamental pattern, on which a map of Uzbekistan is depicted. Wr ...
* Independence Library
See also
*
Mustaqillik Maydoni
Independence Square ( uz, Mustaqillik Maydoni, Мустақиллик Майдони) is a central square of Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Introduction
After the proclamation of Uzbekistan's independence in September 1991, "Lenin Square" was renamed in ...
References
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan (, ; uz, Ozbekiston, italic=yes / , ; russian: Узбекистан), officially the Republic of Uzbekistan ( uz, Ozbekiston Respublikasi, italic=yes / ; russian: Республика Узбекистан), is a doubly landlocked cou ...
September observances
Public holidays in Uzbekistan
{{uzbekistan-stub