Thousands of Tashkent residents say last farewell to President Karimov

Thousands of Tashkent residents said last farewell to Uzbekistan’s President Islam Karimov who passed away September 2.

Earlier, it was reported that Islam Karimov was hospitalized Aug. 27 after having suffered a stroke.

Karimov will be buried in Samarkand on September 3.

Uzbek president’s funeral will be held in accordance with Muslim traditions.

Karimov was born January 30, 1938 in the city of Samarkand, Uzbekistan. He was the first president of Uzbekistan since the country gained independence in 1991.

In the Soviet period, Karimov served as first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic from 1989 to 1991.

He also served as the head of the Uzbek government in 1990-1992.