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Uzbekistan: Identities of President Islam Karimov's children, their spouses and former spouses

President Islam Abdughanievich Karimov of Uzbekistan and his wife Tatyana Akbarovna have two daughters and three grandchildren (Uzbekistan 6 Mar. 2003; Interfax 30 Jan. 2003; Moskovskiye Novosti 25 Jan.-1 Feb. 1998).

Gulnora (Gulnara) Karimova, Karimov's eldest daughter (ibid.) married New Jersey businessman Mansur Maqsudi in 1991 (Wall Street Journal 21 Aug. 2001; CSRC May 2002, 4) and has two children (Daily Record 28 Nov. 2002; ibid. 28 Sept. 2002; Star-Ledger 6 Nov. 2002). The couple separated in July 2001 (Wall Street Journal 21 Aug. 2001), and New Jersey courts finalized their divorce on 31 January 2003 (Eurasianet.org 21 Mar. 2003). Gulnora returned to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 2001, while Mansur Maqsudi continues to reside in Mendham, New Jersey (ibid.; Star-Ledger 6 Nov. 2002; Daily Record 28 Nov. 2002).

The Research Directorate found very little information concerning Lola Karimova, Karimov's youngest daughter, among the sources consulted. In 1993 and 1998, Russian newspaper reports referred in passing to Lola as a student (The Moscow News 10 Sept. 1993; Moskovskiye Novosti 25 Jan.-1 Feb. 2001). In 2003, Lola Karimova was reportedly to chair a new nongovernmental organization called "You Are Not Alone" which would take care of 300 children in two Tashkent orphanages (Deutsche Welle 16 Apr. 2003; Uzland 17 Apr. 2003). The Research Directorate was unable to find reports mentioning the identity of Lola Karimova's spouse, if any, among the sources consulted.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Conflict Studies Research Centre (CSRC) [London]. May 2002. Ella Akerman. Power & Wealth in Central Asian Politics: Clan Structures versus Democratisation. <http://da.mod.uk/CSRC/Home/pdfs/K30-EA.pdf> [Accessed 2 June 2003]

The Daily Record [Morris County, New Jersey]. 28 November 2002. “Uzbek President's Daughter Not Immune, U.S. Court Rules.” (UzLand) <http://www.uzland.uz/2002/November/29/07.htm> [Accessed 30 May 2003]

_____. 28 September 2000. Peggy Wright. “Maqsudi Fearful of His Father-In-Law's Dictatorship.” (Muslim Uzbekistan) <http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2002/09/ennews28092002_2.html> [Accessed 30 May 2003]

Deutsche Welle [in Russian]. 16 April 2003. Lola Karimova Is to Become the Chairman of the Guardian Council of the Society for the Protection of Orphaned Children's Rights. (UzLand) <http://www.uzland.uz/2003/april/17/01.htm> [Accessed 2 June 2003]

Eurasianet.org. 21 March 2003. “Divorce Case Opens Windows on Karimov Family Wealth” <http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav032103.shtml> [Accessed 29 May 2003]

Interfax [Moscow, in English]. 30 January 2003. Karen Melikyan and Andrei Petrovsky. “Interfax Presidential Bulletin Report for January 30, 2003.” (FBIS-SOV-2003-0130 30 Jan. 2003/WNC)

The Moscow News. 10 September 1993. Usmanov Lerman. “Will Islam Karimov Become a Nobel Prize Winner?” (NEXIS)

Moskovskiye Novosti [Moscow, in Russian]. 25 January-1 February 1998. No. 3. Sanobar Shermatova. “Uzbekistan: Contradictions of Karimov's Policy Examined." (FBIS-SOV-98-041 10 Feb. 1998/WNC)

Star-Ledger [New Jersey]. 6 November 2002. Paula Saha. “Judge Gives Karimov's Daughter One Last Chance.” (Muslim Uzbekistan) <http://www.muslimuzbekistan.com/eng/ennews/2002/11/ennews06112002_2.html> [Accessed 30 May 2003]

Uzbekistan. 6 March 2003. Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “President/Biography.” <http://www.press-service.uz/eng/president_eng/president_eng.htm> [Accessed 30 May 2003]

Uzland.uz [Tashkent, in Uzbek]. 17 April 2003. "New Charity Backed by Uzbek President's Daughter to Help Orphans." (BBC Monitoring Central Asia Unit/NEXIS)

The Wall Street Journal [New York]. 21 August 2001. “Daughter of Uzbek President Splits with Bottler.” (UzLand). <http://www.uzland.uz/2001/august/21.htm> [Accessed 2 June 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including:

Internews

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL)

Times of Central Asia

Transitions Online

Umid World

Uzbekistan Daily Digest

Uzbekistan Information Directory (UzLand)

Uzbekistan. Government Portal (in Russian)