On August 31, 1991, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan declared independence from the former Soviet Union on September 1. The country’s independence presented new opportunities not only for the major ethnic groups in Central Asia’s new states, but also for the Uighurs living there. nation. One clear sign of this is the revival of national identity among the Uyghur communities in the Central Asian republics.
Excluding East Turkistan, the historical homeland of the Uyghurs, the largest number of Uyghurs live in several countries in Central Asia. During the former Soviet Union, the Uighurs were a cross-border people and played a geopolitical role in the complex relationship between the Soviet Union and China. Therefore, the Uyghurs of the Central Asian republics enjoyed certain cultural privileges during the Soviet era, but due to Stalin’s repressive policies in the 1930s, they suffered serious tragedies along with their Central Asian brethren and their national identity was destroyed. As a result, many Uyghurs in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were forced to register themselves as ‘Kyrgyz’ or ‘Uzbek’. After Gorbachev came to power in 1985, new reforms began in the former Soviet Union, and drastic changes occurred in the republics within the Soviet Union. In 1991, the former Soviet Union collapsed, and several republics within it declared independence one after another.
On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, Yedidullah Oiztkhan, President of the International Federation of East Turkistan Organizations in the heart of Istanbul, congratulated the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Kyrgyzstan on social media. . In this regard, Hidaydullah Oiztkhan, interviewed by our radio station, noted that there are many Uyghurs living in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. He said independence for Central Asia’s Turkic peoples would give hope and strength to the Uighurs.
After the independence of Kyrgyzstan, the Uyghurs living in Kyrgyzstan began publishing their own organizations based on the Constitution of Independent Kyrgyzstan, firstly the Kyrgyz Uyghur “Union” Association and then the Uyghur-language “Ittypag” newspaper. Ms. Cheshmam Mukhtarova, an active member of the Uyghur community in Kyrgyzstan and President of the International Union of Uyghur Women in Kyrgyzstan, noted that Kyrgyzstan’s independence has created many opportunities for Uyghur women in the country, including Uyghur women.
On August 31, solemn celebrations were held throughout Kyrgyzstan. Celebrities from all over Russia and Europe were invited to the capital Bimkek, celebrations were organized in Horkol, Osh and Jalalabad regions. After listening to our interview, Mr. Alashir Nasirahunov, Chairman of the Jalalabad Uyghur “Union” Association, said that on Independence Day this year, Uyghur national dances will be performed for the first time, bringing great national pride to the Uyghur community in Jalalabad. He emphasized that it was done.
The Republic of Uzbekistan celebrates September 1 as National Independence Day. Uzbekistan’s Uyghurs have not been mentioned for years and their population numbers are not accurately reported in official statistics. The situation changed after 2016 when new President Shaukat Mirziyoyev came to power. A Uyghur cultural center was built in Tashkent, and many cultural events were held, including the publication of the Uyghur-language magazine ‘Teklimakan’. Ulimajan Zaytov, president of the Tashkent Uyghur Cultural Center, listened to our interview and noted that in recent years the government of Uzbekistan has created many opportunities for the various ethnic groups in the republic, including the Uyghurs.
Ms. Hakima Williamova, artistic director of the ‘Al-Nur’ ensemble, which received the title ‘Model Ensemble’ from the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said in an interview with Our Radio that the Uyghur community is actively participating in various activities. He participated in Republic activities and received various awards.
In recent years, Uyghurs in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have been actively participating in and becoming members of international Uyghur organizations such as the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Academy. At the same time, the Uyghur communities in these two republics are making urgent efforts to preserve and develop their native language, culture, and national identity.
