Independence and economic achievements

Uzbekistan was part of the Soviet Union for many years. In the 1980s the Soviet Union fell into crisis and the peoples within it began to demand independence. In 1989 the Uzbek language was given the status of state language. On 24 March 1990 the post of President was created for the first time in Uzbekistan and Islam Karimov was elected President; he led the country until 2016. “President” is Latin for “one who sits in front”. In 1990 a declaration of state sovereignty was adopted. In August 1991 there was an attempt in Moscow to keep the Soviet Union together, which failed. On 31 August 1991 the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan declared state independence; 1 September was made Independence Day. On 29 December 1991 a national vote on independence was held along with a presidential election. The state symbols were approved: the flag on 18 November 1991, the coat of arms on 2 July 1992 and the anthem on 10 December 1992; the Constitution was adopted that same year, on 8 December (in 2023 a new version of the Constitution was adopted by national referendum). Karakalpakstan has the status of a republic within Uzbekistan: it has its own Constitution, symbols and parliament, the Jokargy Kenes. The three symbols — flag, coat of arms and anthem — make the state known to the world and reflect the people’s past, present and future.