Today President Islam Karimov rules with no public opposition to the political and economic direction of post-Soviet Uzbekistan. While nominally democratic, modern Uzbekistan's political culture is in fact shaped by traditional clan-based hierarchies with strong unopposed leaders. Natasha is careful to steer clear of party politics or criticizing the president. This is my homeland, and though there are many problems, I feel they are my problems. Russians settled here more than a century ago.
People realize Russia is a window on the West.
If we're not to sink into a fratricidal or religious war like Tadjikistan or Afghanistan, we must see our minorities as an asset, not a liability. While I'm Russian by birth, I consider myself an internationalist living in a multicultural society. It's vital to act as a watch dog. After the years of stagnation, we are faced with a situation where the rules are constantly changing, where money can lead us down a slippery slope. For instance, there is a serious problem of land grabbing now.