ve division has the same name as its
administrative center (exceptions have the administrative center
name following in parentheses)

Independence: 31 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)

National holiday: Independence Day, 1 September (1991)

Constitution: new constitution adopted 8 December 1992

Legal system: evolution of Soviet civil law; still lacks
independent judicial system

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Islom KARIMOV (since 24 March 1990, when
he was elected president by the then Supreme Soviet) was elected for
a five-year term by popular vote; election last held 29 December
1991 (next to be held NA 2000); results - Islam KARIMOV 86%,
Mukhammad SOLIKH 12%, other 2%; note - the 26 March 1995 referendum
extended KARIMOV's term until 2000 (99.6% approval)
head of government: Prime Minister Otkir SULTONOV (since December
1995), First Deputy Prime Minister Ismoil JURABEKOV (since NA),
Deputy Prime Ministers Viktor CHIZHEN (since NA), Bakhtiyor HAMIDOV
(since NA), Kayim HAQQULOV (since NA), Rim GINIYATULLIN (since NA),
Saidmukhtor SAIDQOSIMOV (since NA), Mirabror USMONOV (since NA),
Murat SHARIFKHOJAYEV (since NA), Uktam ISMAILOV (since NA), Rustam
YUNUSOV (since NA) were appointed by the president
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers was appointed by the president with
approval of the Supreme Assembly

Legislative branch: unicameral
Supreme Assembly (Oliy Majlis): elections last held 25 December 1994
(next to be held NA 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA;
seats - (250 total) People's Democratic Party 207, Fatherland
Progress Party 12, other 31; note - final runoffs were held 22
January 1995; seating was as follows: People's Democratic Party 69,
Fatherland Progress Party 14, Social Democratic Party 47, local
government 120

Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are nominated by the
president and confirmed by the Supreme Assembly

Political parties and leaders: People's Democratic Party (PDP;
formerly Communist Party), Islom A. KARIMOV, chairman; Fatherland
Progress Party (FPP), Anwar YULDASHEV, chairman; Social Democratic
Party, Anvar JORABAYEV, chairman

Other political or pressure groups: Birlik (Unity) People's
Movement (BPM), Ibrahim BURIYEV, chairman; Islamic Rebirth Party
(IRP), Abdullah UTAYEV, chairman; Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party was
banned 9 December 1992
note: UTAYEV (IRP