Baxtiyor Rahimov
Encyclopedia
Baxtiyor Rahimov (born circa 1963) is a rebel
leader in Uzbekistan
who advocates an Islamic republic
. He is currently being held by the Uzbek government.
Little is known of Rahimov's background prior the protest
s and government attacks in Uzbekistan
in May 2005. He had apparently been a farmer and resident of Qorasuv
, a small town on the border with Kyrgyzstan
.
After a series of protests and reprisals centered in Andijan
, a provincial capital some 50 km (31.1 mi) from Qorasuv, thousands of Uzbeks stormed the border town in attempt to flee the country. On approximately May 13, 2005, Rahimov and persons loyal to him seized control of Qorasuv.
Rahimov announced plans to form an Islam
ic state in place of what are now Central Asian countries. He gave an interview with the Associated Press
while seated on horseback, during which he was quoted as saying
"We will be building an Islamic state here in accordance with the Quran" and citing his goals of reaching Kyrgyzstan
, Tajikistan
, Turkmenistan
, "and the rest of the world".http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=768231&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312. The AP report indicated that, as of May 17, no Uzbek military forces were present in the area, but contained only speculation as to the numbers of Rahimov's followers. Rahimov stated, "We don't have weapons, but if they come and attack us we will fight even with knives."
On May 18, 2005, Rahimov was captured by government forces after minimal resistance. Also arrested were Rahimov's 14-year-old son and around twenty other people who may or may not have ties to him. The occupation of Qorasuv appears to have eliminated the last pocket of resistance stemming from the May, 2005 protests.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157050,00.html. Despite the release of most of those arrested, protests demanding freedom for Rahimov continued on May 19 and 20 alongside a heavy military presence.
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
leader in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
who advocates an Islamic republic
Islamic republic
Islamic republic is the name given to several states in the Muslim world including the Islamic Republics of Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania. Pakistan adopted the title under the constitution of 1956. Mauritania adopted it on 28 November 1958. Iran adopted it after the 1979 Iranian...
. He is currently being held by the Uzbek government.
Little is known of Rahimov's background prior the protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
s and government attacks in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan , officially the Republic of Uzbekistan is a doubly landlocked country in Central Asia and one of the six independent Turkic states. It shares borders with Kazakhstan to the west and to the north, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to the east, and Afghanistan and Turkmenistan to the south....
in May 2005. He had apparently been a farmer and resident of Qorasuv
Qorasuv
Qorasuv is a town in Andijan Province in eastern Uzbekistan, about 50 km from the district capital of Andijan. The town's name means "black water" in Uzbek...
, a small town on the border with Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
.
After a series of protests and reprisals centered in Andijan
Andijan
Andijan or Andizhan is the fourth-largest city in Uzbekistan, and the capital of the Andijan Province. It is located in the east of the country, at , in the Fergana Valley, near the border with Kyrgyzstan on the Andijan-Say River...
, a provincial capital some 50 km (31.1 mi) from Qorasuv, thousands of Uzbeks stormed the border town in attempt to flee the country. On approximately May 13, 2005, Rahimov and persons loyal to him seized control of Qorasuv.
Rahimov announced plans to form an Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
ic state in place of what are now Central Asian countries. He gave an interview with the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
while seated on horseback, during which he was quoted as saying
"We will be building an Islamic state here in accordance with the Quran" and citing his goals of reaching Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan , officially the Kyrgyz Republic is one of the world's six independent Turkic states . Located in Central Asia, landlocked and mountainous, Kyrgyzstan is bordered by Kazakhstan to the north, Uzbekistan to the west, Tajikistan to the southwest and China to the east...
, Tajikistan
Tajikistan
Tajikistan , officially the Republic of Tajikistan , is a mountainous landlocked country in Central Asia. Afghanistan borders it to the south, Uzbekistan to the west, Kyrgyzstan to the north, and China to the east....
, Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan , formerly also known as Turkmenia is one of the Turkic states in Central Asia. Until 1991, it was a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic . Turkmenistan is one of the six independent Turkic states...
, "and the rest of the world".http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=768231&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312. The AP report indicated that, as of May 17, no Uzbek military forces were present in the area, but contained only speculation as to the numbers of Rahimov's followers. Rahimov stated, "We don't have weapons, but if they come and attack us we will fight even with knives."
On May 18, 2005, Rahimov was captured by government forces after minimal resistance. Also arrested were Rahimov's 14-year-old son and around twenty other people who may or may not have ties to him. The occupation of Qorasuv appears to have eliminated the last pocket of resistance stemming from the May, 2005 protests.http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,157050,00.html. Despite the release of most of those arrested, protests demanding freedom for Rahimov continued on May 19 and 20 alongside a heavy military presence.