Rim Giniyatullin: ‘People got used to Islam Karimov, he was like father of the nation’

Mr Giniyatullin, how big is the Tatar community in Uzbekistan (you said about 300 thousands) and how many of them migrate to Tatarstan and Russia?

About 300 thousand people. We have not held a census for about 30 years. The last census was in 1989. As for migration, before we had 600 thousand Tatars, about 300 thousand of them left, 50-60 thousand to Tatarstan and the rest — in other regions of Russia. It is very difficult to move to Tatarstan, it is difficult to find a place. I don't know why. No, I do know, but don't want to tell.

How long have the Tatar community lived here?

In 2010, we celebrated the 20th anniversary. Now the community havs been living here for 26 years.

What is the situation with the Tatar language in Uzbekistan? A similar question was asked at the press conference.

At the press conference I was asked how often I hear the speech in the Tatar language. If there is a need — people speak. But if, for example, in Russian society there is no need to speak the Tatar — why do that pointedly? You're not going to the Uzbeks, demanding to speak to me in Tatar. That question was incorrect, and it is difficult to answer.

Could you name eminent persons with Tatar roots? May be some politicians, businessmen...

Today, there are no such major figures, because the formation of the Uzbek intelligentsia displaces other nationalities. You don't have to go far for an example — previously I was the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan.

'Our young people are leaving. To achieve career success, they must grow from the bottom up. They're leaving to study — to America, someone to Moscow, and then return very rarely, out of ten people, maybe one, two.' Photo: newstatar.ru

Have you been replaced either?

No, just youth has grown up. Our young people are leaving. To achieve career success, they must grow from the bottom up. They're leaving to study — to America, someone to Moscow, and then return very rarely, out of ten people, maybe one, two. But if eight out of ten leave — of course, the attitude to the nationality is appropriate. So, they will leave anyway. This philosophy hinders from building a career a little.

Does it concern the business either? By the way, I don't know how true it is, but they say that now in Uzbekistan the private large business is prevented from developing.

I wouldn't say that. Just the country itself is growing rapidly demographically. Today, it is 32 million people, at the time of the Soviet collapse it was 19 million. But if every year the number increases by 600-700 thousand people, which country will have the time to create jobs?

Are the Uzbeks upset due to the loss of President Islam Karimov?

You know, he was the head of state for 28 years. Most people are very upset, they got used to him, he was like father of the nation.

'Especially the older generation feel the loss. But there is no such tragedy, like after Stalin.' Photo: Muhammadsharif Mamatkulov (REUTERS)/ru.rfi.fr

How is it manifested in the society?

The people are docile, well behaved. They got used to that they have one President. Especially the older generation feel the loss. But there is no such tragedy, like after Stalin. Besides, today's head has been Prime Minister for 12 years before that. Everyone has got used to him and considers him a natural successor. Therefore, there are no contrapositions.