Abdumannop Pulat, leader of the Uzbek opposition and one of the founders of the Birlik party, passed away because of a serious disease in the United States on November 21, 2010.Pulat died at the age of 59 in Springfield, Virginia. He was born in Tashkent and joined opposition in the mid-1980s when he was a teacher at the Tashkent State University.
The backbone of the Uzbek opposition grew from the university’s 'Journalist' newspaper, published by the journalism department’s students and teachers, who raised political problems and shaped the ideology of a future political movement.
Later the opposition movement split, and the Erk party emerged with poet Muhammad Salih as its leader.
At the same time, President Islam Karimov started strengthening his power and the persecution of opposition leaders began in 1993: some were imprisoned, others were severely beaten up and many had to flee the country.
Abdumannob lived in the United States for 17 years and acquired citizenship in 2001.
Long periods in exile and being unable to return to homeland and work there have deprived Uzbek opposition leaders of opportunities to develop politically and gain experience.
In recent years, Uzbek opposition leaders had disagreements among themselves. They were also unable to unite and achieve a common goal.
Perhaps, dreaming about a free Uzbekistan, Pulat did not assume that he would end up in the USA and die there.
He was buried in Springfield’s Muslim cemetery on November 22.
Link to article: http://uznews.net/news_single.php?lng=en&sub=top&cid=30&nid=15708
P.S. -- I have known Abdumannob Pulat through several interviews that I did online and he always answered my questions on time and with great detail. He will be remembered and missed.
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