Mustallik - Independance Square Tashkent
written by wil6ka
on September 23rd, 2008
, 2 comments
(3 votes)
The biggest square in Toshkent is he independence square. With the change of Politics it changed it face and its significance over the decades and serves as a good example for the east in general. First it was the Cathedral Square fort he Orthodox Church, as the Russian Empire conquered the region.
After Uzbekistan became a SSR it initially became the red square with a huge Lenin, of course. Lenin is gone now and instead there is a big mama from bronze. President Karimov declared 2005 or 2006 to the year of mothers and to make his move a bit more consistent he putt he big mama on the square. Mama for Lenin, that i would call a very smart move. There is also a giant gate made of reflecting metal and some mystic figure. Nobody could really explain what it means but I reckon it is just fashionable. Many Buildings are nowadays build with some sort of mirror-look, but I seriously doubt, that they will last very long. The square is just made for public announcement and celebration. I am quite sure that Karimov is holding parades there and the Uzbeks welcomed there greatest son Ruslan Chagayev, after he won the Boxing title in the WBA World championship.
In 1999 Islamic extremists attempted a bomb assassination on President Karimov, which eventually increased the security measures on the square. At night policemen control the square and you shouldn´t mess too long with your lomocams on certain spots. After a while they will start whistling telling you to stop your awkward photo-action. But I managed to take all my shots so I got lucky. It is very impressive to walk on the square at night, because he is illuminated and not so many people walk around. You will not be allowed to go to the parliament close by, because it is secured area. During the day you will reach the square best with the metro. Get out at Mustakillik Maidoni or take a cab.
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