The Guardian writes:  “To most of Uzbekistan’s population, it doesn’t really matter whether the president, Islam Karimov, is alive or dead. What matters more is that the crisis prompted by his poor health is seized upon to demand change for people living under a regime that thrives on corruption.”

Mr. Karimov, 78, who has ruled as a dictator,  has suffered a suspected stroke.

“But parliament has not yet been convened, and in a country where politics takes place behind closed doors, it makes sense that the succession plan follows the same secretive pattern.

“In the short term, it remains to be seen whether Uzbekistan’s presidency will transfer temporarily to the senate speaker and former justice minister, Nigmatilla Yuldashev, ” the news service reported.

To read The Guardian article, please hit this link.