What did the independence of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan give to the Uyghurs living in those countries?

On August 31, 1991, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan declared their independence from the former Soviet Union on September 1. National independence created new opportunities not only for the major ethnic groups in the newly born countries in Central Asia, but also for the Uyghurs living in these countries. One of the obvious signs of this is the revival of the sense of national identity among the Uyghur community in Central Asian republics.

Outside of Eastern Turkistan, which is the historical homeland of the Uyghurs, the largest number of Uyghur residents live in various countries in Central Asia. During the former Soviet Union, the Uyghurs, as a cross-border nation, played a geopolitical role in the complex relationship between the Soviet Union and China. That is why Uyghurs in Central Asian republics enjoyed certain cultural privileges during the Soviet era, but during Stalin's repressive policy in the 1930s, they suffered serious tragedies together with the brotherly peoples of Central Asia, 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 national republics of the Soviet Union. In 1991, the former Soviet Union disintegrated, and various republics in it successively declared independence.

On the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republics of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, the President of the International Union of East Turkistan Organizations in central Istanbul, Mr. Yedidullah Oiztkhan, celebrated the Independence Day of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic through social media. In this regard, Mr. Hidaydullah Oiztkhan, who was interviewed by our radio station, mentioned that there are many Uyghur residents living in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. He said that the independence of the Turkic peoples of Central Asia will give hope and strength to the Uyghur people.

After the independence of Kyrgyzstan, the Uyghurs living in the country established their own organization based on the constitution of independent Kyrgyzstan, namely, first the Kyrgyz Uyghur "Union" society, and then started publishing the Uyghur-language "Ittypag" newspaper. Ms. Cheshmam Mukhtarova, an active member of the Uyghur community in Kyrgyzstan and president of the World Uyghur Women's Union 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 in various parts of Kyrgyzstan. If celebrities from Russia and European countries are invited to the capital city of Bimkek; Commemorative events were organized in Horkol, Osh and Jalalabad provinces. Mr. Alashir Nasirahunov, President of Jalalabad Uyghur "Union" Association, received our interview and emphasized that Uyghur national dances were performed first on this year's Independence Day, which made the Uyghur community in Jalalabad feel great national pride.

The Republic of Uzbekistan marks the National Independence Day on September 1. It turns out that the Uyghurs in Uzbekistan have not been mentioned for many years, and even in official statistics, their population numbers have not been accurately reported. After 2016, this situation changed when the new president Shaukat Mirziyoyev came to power. A Uyghur cultural center was established in Tashkent, and the magazine "Teklimakan" was published in Uyghur language, and many cultural events were held. Mr. Ulimajan Zaytov, the president of the Uyghur Cultural Center in Tashkent, received our interview and mentioned that in recent years, the government of Uzbekistan has created many opportunities for various ethnic groups in the republic, including Uyghurs.

The artistic leader of the "Alnur" ensemble, which received the title of "Exemplary Ensemble" of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mrs. Hakima Viliamova, interviewed by our radio, said that the Uyghur community is actively participating in various activities of the republic and receiving various awards.

In recent years, Uyghurs in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan have been actively participating in and becoming members of international Uyghur organizations, including 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 mother tongue, culture and national identity.