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Translated from Russian by Tanlov members in refuge in Turkey and the United States

U. Khaknazarov - About the “power broker” of Uzbek politics.
Continuation of the topic about polemics with A. Pulatov.
Published 19:18 05.01.2003 [January 5, 2003 7:18 pm Moscow time]

Coming back to the article about the “power broker” of Uzbek politics or about how it was published on the web site of Popular Movement “Birlik.”

Usman Khaknazarov, political analyst

As it is known, on January 2, 2003 my article the “Renaissance of the ”power broker” of Uzbek politics” was published on the web site www.centrasia.ru. I would like to thank the staff of that web site [www.centrasia.ru] first for publishing my article and second for publishing my article without making any alterations, e.g. [publishing] in the same words as I sent. However surprising, it turns out, there are people and web sites managed by them which publish received articles with their [publisher’s] alterations and interpretation. Unfortunately, www.birlik.net, the site of the Popular Movement “Birlik,” managed by the leader of that movement, Mr. Abdurakhim Pulatov, who now lives in the US, turned out to be one of those sites. Indeed, I sent my article to the web site www.birlik.net as well, although I knew for a long time that Abdurakhim Pulatov reformulates others’ words and ideas to his benefit. I did not think that he used his habit even in relation to materials sent to the web site of his Movement [Birlik].

After web site www.centrasia.ru published my article “Renaiscance of the “power broker” of Uzbek politics,” many [other] sites published the article in the same words as I sent [for publishing]. Only web site of “Birlik” published it with alterations suitable to A. Pulatov [leader of “Birlik”]. If [you] compare the original article, in particular the one published on www.centrasia.ru, with its version made by A. Pulatov [leader of “Birlik”], then [you] will see a completely different article on www.birlik.net. For example, the part “The first golden period of Samarkand clan” begins with the following Pulatov’s [leader of “Birlik”] insertion:

“For fairness, one must note that Samarkand clan was put at the helm of power [in Uzbekistan] by Kremlin back in the stagnant years. Against the commonly spread opinion, it [Samarkand clan] did not lose its influence even after the destructive audit by Gdlyan [famous Soviet auditor]. But the representatives of this [Samarkand] clan intuitively felt that the arrival on the waves of “Reform” [Perestroika in Russian] processes of national democratic movements would lead to the fall of their monopoly on power. They [Samarkand clan] were particularly worried that the leader of “Birlik” Abdurakhim Pulatov was from Tashkent. Although another prominent Tashkent resident Shukrullo Mirsaidov [former senior Uzbek government official] treated “Birlik” and its leader with animosity, the Samarkand clan was afraid that they [Mirsaidov and Pulatov] may become friends over time.

In that situation Samarkand [clan] played brilliantly. They [Samarkand clan] managed to convince Muhammad Salikh that under the current political situation, the growing strength of “Birlik” would bring the Tashkent [clan] to power, while Samarkand and Khorezm [clans] would remain on the curb [out of power]. Naive Salikh virtually betrayed “Birlik” and Abdurakhim Pulatov to Samarkand clan, but again because of his naivety could not received from Karimov the appropriate “piece of the pie” and in the end was swept away by Karimov’s associates. By the way, [swept away] as well as Mirsaidov.

After the [Uzbekistan] authorities completely suppressed the activity of the main opposition organization Birlik and began to conduct authoritarian policy by the mid 1990's, Karimov and Ismail Djurabekov [senior government official] became uncontrolled owners of Independent Uzbekistan.”

I showed this Pulatov's [leader of Birlik] piece in the same words as it is, even with all grammatical errors that were made. The comments here are unnecessary, I wanted to focus on the facts described in Abdurakhim Pulatov’s insertion. Firstly, during the stagnant years there was no Samarkand clan in power in Uzbekistan. If Kremlin wanted to put Samarkand clan at the helm of Uzbekistan, as Abdurakhim Pulatov asserts, then it would not assign the native of Djizakh province of Uzbek nationality, Sharraf Rashidov as the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist party of Uzbekistan. [Kremlin] would assign instead of him [Sharraf Rashidov] that same Ismail Djurabekov [senior government official, native of Samarkand]. Secondly, even assuming that Samarkand clan was in power at that time, then it, Samarkand clan, would be concerned not about the place of birth of the leader of Birlik, but about the movement Birlik itself. Now let us stop on Abdurakhim Pulatov, the leader of the Movement Birlik. Who is he, who was he ? Thus ...

Abdurakhim Pulatov and the story of his appearance in Uzbek politics.

Abdurakhim Pulatov is a native of Tashkent, Doctor of Technical Sciences, former head of the Party Committee of the Communist party of Soviet Union of the Cybernetics Institute at the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan. [Abdurakhim Pulatov] worked as the head of the [Communist] Party Committee until 1989. The movement Birlik, which is headed by him [Pulatov], was founded in 1988 by a group of young poets and writers lead by the same Muhammad Salikh. Poet Muhammad Salikh brought in Abdurakhim Pulatov and his brother Abdumannop Pulatov, who currently also lives in the US, to the Popular Movement Birlik by recommendation of Rauf Parfiev, another Uzbek poet, in 1989. In the same year, with the consent of the founders of Birlik, Abdurakhim Pulatov is assigned a leader of the Movement, taking into account his experience in the leading position. Thus, he became a leader of a Popular Movement [Birlik], in the creation of which he did not take part. Thus ...

Activity of A. Pulatov in Birlik

By the time when Abdurakhim Pulatov became the leader of Birlik, that Movement already had big coverage among the population [of Uzbekistan], because it was already created with regional departments. It is not even that Abdurakhim Pulatov came to drive a running and moving vehicle: It is that while leading Birlik he [Pulatov] does not leave the post of the head of Party Committee of the Communist party of Soviet Union of the Cybernetics Institute of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan and naturally the Communist party. Obviously the activity of Abdurakhim Pulatov in Birlik is not left without attention of the principals of the Communist Party and in the fall of the same year 1989, the District branch of the Communist party of the former 'Kuibishev' (now 'Mirzo-Ulughbek') district of Tashkent, where the Institute of Cybernetics of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan is located, makes a decision to expel Abdurakhim Pulatov from the Communist party of Soviet Union.

Immediately, in the fall of 1989, Abdurakhim Pulatov takes counter measures to ... remain in the Communist Party of Soviet Union; across from hotel 'Uzbekistan' in Tashkent he organizes a meeting in his defense, e.g. with demand to cancel decision of the district committee of the Communist Party of the former Kuibishev district [of Tashkent]. The founders of Birlik strive to dissuade him from conducting that infamous meeting, however, Abdurakhim Pulatov does not agree [with founders of Birlik] saying that he does not want to lose a position where he receives a salary. If during those times all fighters for Independence from the Red Empire [Soviet Union and Communist Party] were burning their [Communist] Party membership cards, then the Uzbek 'fighter' Abdurakhim Pulatov is fighting for the return of his Communist Party membership card. And [Pulatov] fights while being [the leader] in a Popular Movement [Birlik]. On that meeting in support of Abdurakhim Pulatov, participated many prominent members of Birlik, particularly, poetess Gulchehra Nurullaeva, rights defender Muhtabbar Akhmedova, who currently also call themselves the fighters for Independence of Uzbekistan from the Communist yoke. This shows on the video tapes of that meeting near hotel 'Uzbekistan.' They [video cassettes] have shots where A. Pulatov heatedly says to the participants of the meeting: 'I demand from district Committee of the Communist Party of the Kuibishev district [of Tashkent] to cancel [Communist Party's] decision of my expulsion from the Communist Party of the Soviet Union: I am worthy of the Party of the Great Lenin [one of the founders of Communism and founder of Soviet Union].'

However, no matter how much Pulatov tried to remain a Communist, the Communist Party did not change its decision. And he [Pulatov] completely switches to work in Birlik. In the same 1989, the first troubles for A. Pulatov in Birlik arise: The Council of Popular Movement begins to reproach him [Pulatov] because he can not attract people to Birlik including his colleague scientists. In particular, Pulatov is reproached that he could not attract to the Movement his former principal, Director of the Cybernetics Institute - Vosil Kabulov. Pulatov says that he does not have close relations with V. Kabulov. After that the initiators of the founding of Birlik themselves go to persuade [to join Birlik] the Director of the Cybernetics Institute [V. Kabulov]. Thus ...

The conversation of the members of Birlik with the former principal of Abdurakhim Pulatov

Vosil Kabulov tells the coming members of Birlik that he respects the Popular Movement Birlik, however, [he] does not respect its leader - Abdurakhim Pulatov, his former subordinate. To the question 'Why?' V. Kabulov answers that during [Pulatov's] work in the Cybernetics Institute, Pulatov annoyed him [Kabulov] with numerous complaints to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Soviet Union in Moscow. In those [complaint] letters A. Pulatov, as a true [Communist] party career maker constantly complains that Vosil Kabulov [is] supposedly a nationalist, hiring only Uzbeks. In addition, A. Pulatov writes that Kabulov, in his scientific articles very rarely cites the Fathers of communism - Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, and Vladimir Lenin. He [Pulatov] writes that Kabulov likes to refer to Uzbek mathematicians Al Khorezmi, Berunii, Ulughbek and others. 'Vosil Kabulov teaches this to his graduate students as well,' - writes Abdurakhim Pulatov.

After such conversation, the members of Birlik became ashamed to ask the prominent scientist [Kabulov] to join the movement [Birlik] lead by a Communist [Pulatov]. Thus, Vosil Kabulov parts with missionaries - members of Birlik. By the way, if anyone doubts the truthfulness of this story, one can just ask Vosil Kabulov himself, he is still alive and well, living in the town [neighborhood] of Ulughbek of Mirzo-Ulughbek district of Tashkent where the employees of the Research Institutes of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan reside. It is also possible to find out very many details about the personality of Abdurakhim Pulatov from him [Vosil Kabulov]. In addition, his [Abdurahim Pulatov's] complaints against Vosil Kabulov are still stored in the Central archive of the Communist Party of Soviet Union in Moscow. Thus ...

The Communist [Pulatov] leading anti-Communist Popular Movement [Birlik]

While being the leader of Birlik, Abdurakhim Pulatov, instead of fighting for Independence of Uzbekistan, stands [for Uzbekistan] to remain in the former Soviet Union. In many meetings, he [Pulatov] calls on people not to separate from Moscow [Soviet Union]. In addition in 1989, on the eve of passing of the law 'About the state language of Uzbekistan,' later ratifying Uzbek language as the state language of Uzbekistan, Abdurakhim Pulatov began to stand against that law, demanding to keep the Russian language as the state language.

These are his [Pulatov's] actions that became the main reason of the split of Birlik: some of the members of Birlik, standing for political independence of Uzbekistan, left that Popular Movement [Birlik]. Among those who left [Birlik], were the founders of Birlik, including poet M. Salikh. This group, led by poet M. Salikh, created party Erk. From that moment Uzbekistan had two opposition political forces, standing on different political platforms. From that moment the leader of Birlik Abdurakhim Pulatov begins to call the Party [Erk] of his former associates, who split from Birlik, traitors. However, after some time, Abdurakhim Pulatov begins an immigrant life outside of Uzbekistan, first in Moscow [Russia], then in the US. Thus....

The activity of Abdurakhim Pulatov from abroad

While living in America [US], A. Pulatov, strangely enough, begins to fight not against Karimov's regime, which suppressed his movement [Birlik], but against his former associates, who left Birlik. In this, he even cooperates with official Tashkent; now he is occupied with disinformation against those [political opposition activists], who are against Karimov [incumbent President of Uzbekistan]. Interestingly enough, Abdurakhim Pulatov begins to shamelessly receive the assignments from the authorities of Uzbekistan in the embassy of Uzbekistan in the US, although the Uzbek diplomats are asking him to be more cautious, not to appear in their embassy. To such requests he [Pulatov] bravely says: 'To destroy the traitors, I would go not only to the embassy [of Uzbekistan in the US], but to Karimov himself.'

Vasila Inoyatova, responsible for Birlik in Uzbekistan, a relative of Abdurakhim Pulatov, also followed the same road. V. Inoyatova even exceeded him [Abdurakhim Pulatov]: in 1995 she [Inoyatova], on her one own initiative, delivered two issues of Erk's newspaper, which she [Inoyatova] received from the members of that party [Erk] for [her] review, to the secret service (National Security Service) of Uzbekistan. As a result, Vasila Inoyatova becomes the initiator of the fabrication, by the secret service of Uzbekistan, of the political investigation # 300/7, against seven former members of Birlik. If Inoyatova is fighting against the [political] opposition inside the country [Uzbekistan], then her relative, Abdurakhim Pulatov, [is fighting against political opposition] outside of the country [Uzbekistan].

The mission of Abdurakhim Pulatov is to defame all [political] opposition activists fighting against Karimov in front of Americans [authorities]. The same thing [defamation of Uzbek political opposition] he [Pulatov] attempted to do in the mid 1990's in Moscow, but with Russians, [who were] worried by their internal problems of that time; he [Pulatov] failed [to defame Uzbek opposition in the eyes of the Russians]. However in late 1980's and early 1990's, Pulatov sincerely served Kremlin as a true Communist. A lot is known about him [Pulatov] in Moscow, in particular, how in the Moscow apartment of the member of Birlik rights defender Damin Narzikulov, Abdurakhim Pulatov starts a fight with his associate because of five thousand US dollars, sent by different social organizations of Turkey for development of Popular Movement Birlik. In the end, Pulatov keeps that money to himself, without spending a penny on the needs of his Movement. About this uneducated Communist, false fighter for freedom of Uzbek people one can say much more, but this is enough. Thus ...

In conclusion

Using the opportunity, I would like to address Abdurakhim Pulatov. Abdurakhim, while writing the article I did not set a goal to please everyone or anyone, including you [Pulatov]. You [Pulatov] could have said everything that is written in your insertion [to my article] using an honest method, publish your views in the form of a separate article from your [Pulatov] name or in the form of your commentary to my article as do the visitors of the web site www.centrasia.ru. However, you wanted to say that through another's mouth. People have a very good expression exactly characterizing actions of a person attempting to do something with another's hands. I will not list it because it is a little rough and vulgar. Abdurahim the kind of amoral person you were twelve years ago, the same, it turns out, you remain. Villain - in America [US] is also a villain! There is nothing more to say!

Source- CentrAsia.