Independence Day of Uzbekistan (history)
Uzbekistan’s Independence Day has been celebrated annually on September 1 since 1992. In Uzbek, it is called O’zbekiston Respublikasi Mustaqilligi kuni — Independence Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
This day was established in honor of the proclamation of the country’s state independence from the USSR. This happened on August 31, 1991 — a key date in Uzbekistan’s history.
How Uzbekistan became independent
In August 1991, there was an attempted coup in Moscow — the so-called August Putsch. From August 18 to 21, security forces tried to prevent the signing of a new Union Treaty between the RSFSR, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, which had been scheduled for August 20. The coup failed — and in this situation the republic declared its independence.
On August 31, 1991, at an extraordinary session of the Supreme Council of the Uzbek SSR in Tashkent, the Law “On the Fundamentals of State Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan” was adopted. On the same day, the republic was renamed from the Uzbek SSR to the Republic of Uzbekistan. And September 1 was officially declared Independence Day.
A few days later, on September 5, by a decree of then-president Islam Karimov, the main square of Tashkent — formerly Lenin Square — was given a new name: Mustaqillik Square, meaning Independence Square.
First celebrations
In 1992, state law No. 669-XII “On Public Holidays in the Republic of Uzbekistan” was adopted, officially establishing September 1 as a public holiday. That year, Uzbekistan celebrated Independence Day on a large scale for the first time.
The first workers’ spartakiad was held, bringing together participants from all regions. At the Nadira Begim cinema in Tashkent, Davron Salimov’s film Istiqlol (Independence) — about the first year of the new state — was shown. Other films about contemporary Uzbekistan, its writers, poets, and thinkers followed.
Festivities on Mustaqillik Square
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the main celebrations took place on Mustaqillik Square on the evening of August 31. As a journalist in the presidential pool, I received an invitation — otherwise it was impossible to get in.
Security blocked access to the square 1–2 km away. You had to walk to the stage, built specially for the holiday, and to the surrounding areas. Hundreds of students in the stands created living pictures with flags. Everything ended with fireworks and a festive salute, part of which was launched right above the square.
Later, celebrations began to be held in Alisher Navoi National Park.
Modern celebrations
Today, official events for Independence Day are held in a new location — the “Yangi O’zbekiston” park in Tashkent.
September 1 remains an official public holiday in Uzbekistan.
What has independence given me? The answer is here — in a text written several years ago in Russian. And now I will add to it: the opportunity to have nothing to do with Putin’s Russia.
Happy holiday!
Leave your memories in the comments. Share old photos — I will be happy to see them.
See also: August 1991 in Moscow: my memories from that very square — my personal story about the days when the USSR collapsed and the fate of Uzbekistan was also being decided. I was right there on that very square in Moscow.
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