General information
Part of Conflict: Uzbekistan: Government
Date of first stated goals of incompatibility: 2004-04-03
Comment on date of first stated goal of incompatibility: On 3 April 2004, statements were posted on three different websites: www.stopdictatorkarimov.com, www.centrasia.ru, and www.kavkazcenter.com. The statement declared: "Islamic Jihad Group of Mujahideen Muslims assumes responsibility for recent attacks and blasts against Uzbek government and its myrmidons who cruelly oppresses Uzbek people... We will fight to achieve our aims to the last drop of our blood! Now we hear that arrests of Muslims started again. We demand from the dictatorship government of Karimov to stop immediately these actions and release of our imprisoned Muslim brothers and sisters! Otherwise well do our best to make our attacks fiercer, more violent and lasting a long time."
There were some controversy over the authencity of these claims, including the suggestion that president Karimov himself, or the Uzbek KGB, had instigated the attacks to bolster domestic and international support. More information about the JIG were reported during the trials of suspected militants in July-September 2004.
According to statements in the trials, a few former IMU members had returned from fighting with al-Qaeda against the US in Afghanistan and Pakistan to form the new organisation with the aim to overthrow Uzbekistans "constitutional system." New members were recruited and training as well as planning for the attacks took place in southern Kazakhstan. It was also reported that a some troops remained there and would launch an invasion following the attacks in Tashkent to complete a coup.
Date of first use of armed force: 2004-03-28
Comment on date of first use of armed force: Late on Sunday 28 March 2004, an explosion occurred in a house in Bukhara and 10 people were killed. The explosion was either aimed at the civilians in that building or an accident while the group was preparing for their offensive. Around midnight the same night, two gunbattles with police erupted in the outskirts of Tashkent when the police tried to detain suspects. In the gunbattles, three police officers and one rebel was killed.
First Battle Related Death: 2004-03-29
Comment on First Battle Related Death: Around midnight on Sunday 28 March 2004, two gunbattles with police erupted in the outskirts of Tashkent when the police tried to detain suspects. In the ensuing gunbattles, three police officers and one rebel was killed. It is possible that the first battle-related death occurred late on 28 March, but the reporting suggest early on 29 March.
Date when dyad reached 25 battle releated deaths: 2004-03-30
Comment on date when dyad reached 25 battle related deaths: On 29 March 2004, several explosions were set off in Tashkent by suicide bombers, targeting policemen. The following day, several gunbattles erupted at recently erected police checkpoints while the biggest battle took place between police and rebels who had taken barricaded themselves in an apartment in Tashkent. At least 23 people were killed on 30 March, bringing the total for the two days of fighting in Tashkent into at least 34 killed.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
2004
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 50 |
| Best | 37 |
| Low | 19 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Uzbekistan): n/a
Side B (JIG): n/a
2009
| Estimated Fatalities | |
|---|---|
| High | 16 |
| Best | 16 |
| Low | 16 |
Secondary Warring Support:
Side A (Government of Uzbekistan): n/a
Side B (JIG): n/a
Dyad Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
2004 Dyad Archive
Comment on Active: In 2004, an attempt to overthrow the government was launched during 29 March - 1 April by a new organisation, the Jihad Islamic Group. Following attacks on police in Tashkent on 29 March, gunbattles continued during the following day as government forces increased thier presence in the capital. In the months that followed, government forces arrested several hundred Muslims suspected of involvement in the events. In July-September, over 135 suspects were on trial for crimes of "terrorism", "infringement of the constitutional system", and "creating, leading, or participating in religious extremist, separatist, fundamentalist, or other banned organizations."
On 30 July, three simultanious bombs aimed at the Uzbek Prosecutor-Generals office as well as the US and Israeli embassies in Tashkent occurred. It was unclear whether the JIG was involved in these attacks.
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: YES
Type of termination: No or Low Activity
Date of termination: 2004-12-31
2009 Dyad Archive
Negotiations: NO
Victory: NO
Terminated: NO
