Cherian, John. "Uzbekistan's Experiment with Democracy". Himalayan and Central Asian Studies, vol.9, no.1 (2005): 41-45.

Cherian, John. "Uzbekistan's Experiment with Democracy". Himalayan and Central Asian Studies, vol.9, no.1 (2005): 41-45.

• Uzbekistan considers may movements towards democratic reform to be elements in an attempt to subvert the government, citing color revolutions in Georgia, Ukraine, and elsewhere (41).
• President Karimov does not believe that Uzbekistan is currently ready for a Western-style democracy. He emphasizes that change should be "evolution, not revolution", looking at the damaging instability that followed democratic revolutions in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Georgia, Ukraine, and the Kyrgyz Republic (41).
• The elections to the lower house of the Oliy Majlis was the first measured step towards democracy, with elections to the upper house coming later in 2005 being the next gradual step in the transition. Five parties will participate in the elections: Xalq Demokratik Partiyasi, 'Adolat' Sotsial-Demokratik Partiya, Milliy Taklanish, Fidokorlar, and Liberal-Demokratik Partiya. All the parties support President Karimov, and receive state funding for campaigns (42).
• The main opposition groups Erk, Birlik, and Ozod Dehqonlar were not allowed to participate in the elections. But besides that, the election gave equal representation to each party in media and campaign opportunities (42).
• Competition in the latest election of the Qonunchilik Palatasi was heavy, with around three candidates competing for each seat in the chamber (42). Voter was overall fair and without major inconsistencies, with a turnout of 85% and a process for disputing seats (43).
• The Markaziy Saylov Qo'mittsiyasi and a representative from the CIS both said the election was free, fair, and open. Whereas, the observer from the OSCE criticized the lack of genuine opposition as a major inconsistency (43).
• The government has says one of the biggest problems in Uzbekistan is job creation, which remains a challenge to keep up with the nation's burgeoning population, approaching 30 million (45).