Day of the assassination attempt on Islam Karimov

Every nation carries its own historical milestones, both good and bad. The Uzbek people, too, remember their past, marked by various significant events. One such event remains deeply ingrained in the memories of the middle generation—the events of February 16, 1999. On that fateful day, black smoke filled the sky over Tashkent as the largest sabotage operation in the country’s history unfolded. This attack not only aimed to overthrow Uzbekistan’s constitutional order but was also an assassination attempt on the country’s First President, Islam Karimov. The incident led to sweeping changes in both foreign and domestic policies, affecting everything from national security measures to the operations of even the smallest government departments.  

The first and most powerful explosion occurred near the Cabinet of Ministers building at 10:55 a.m. On that day, a meeting was scheduled to review the government’s activities for 1998, with President Islam Karimov expected to attend. Azamat Ziyo, who served as the President’s press secretary and was also a deputy in the Oliy Majlis at the time, vividly recalls the moment:  

“At about 09:45, we heard the sound of a gunshot. Then I asked one of the presidential guards if the President had arrived or not. The guard said that the President had almost arrived. I ran downstairs. Then, when I reached the third floor, there was a very strong explosion,” says Azamat Ziyo.  

Following the explosions, security forces, emergency services, and fire brigades rushed to the scene to assess the situation and respond. At 12:57 p.m., Uzbekistan’s national television program "Akhborot" officially reported the attack to the public.  

Zakirjon Almatov, who was serving as the Minister of Internal Affairs at the time and led the investigation, later detailed the event in his book "The Dangerous Days Left Behind":  

“The explosion near the Cabinet of Ministers building also occurred in front of the "Nodirabegim" cinema, the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs buildings in the city. The explosions killed 13 people and injured about 128 others to varying degrees. Of these, 83 were taken to hospitals. Several cars burned down. Almost all of the victims were civilians.

One of the main goals behind this massacre was to encroach on the life of our country’s President, Islam Karimov. The explosions were carried out primarily along the routes used by the presidential motorcade, targeting the entrance to the Cabinet of Ministers building. Six vehicles, each loaded with explosives, were detonated in a coordinated attack,” writes the former Minister of Internal Affairs.  

The attack on February 16, 1999, remains one of the most significant and tragic events in Uzbekistan’s modern history. It marked a turning point in national security policies and left a lasting impact on the country's political landscape. 

 Azamat Ziyo continues his memories of that day:  

“After they said that the President had gone back, I went to the Presidential Office. The most interesting thing was that the rooms in the President’s office were all made of armored glass. They were in disarray. After seeing that situation, I asked Islam aka, ‘Can you go to another, safer place?’ He said, ‘You told me this once, don’t say it again.’  

He said that this was not only an attack on me, but above all, on our people, our state, and our independence. He declared that he would not abandon his principles under any circumstances and, without hesitation, went to the scene,” says Azamat Ziyo.  

Despite ongoing terrorist attacks and multiple explosions in different parts of Tashkent, President Islam Karimov arrived at the scene to assess the situation and check on the victims. As he was giving an interview, another explosion was heard from behind.  

“We need to prevent this by talking to those who are injured and wounded in this building. I want to appeal to our people—do not panic.  

If you want to help me, don’t panic. We have the strength. We have the strength to restore order, and if necessary, not only to bring these suspects to justice but also to cut off their hands. Let our people know this,” said Islam Karimov.  

The annual Cabinet of Ministers meeting, originally scheduled for February 16, was relocated due to the attacks. It was held at 1:00 p.m. in the Oliy Majlis building, with President Islam Karimov in attendance.

The world quickly learned of the tragic events in Tashkent, as international news outlets reported on the explosions that shook Uzbekistan’s capital. Journalists covered the attack extensively in their daily broadcasts. Then-Minister of Internal Affairs Zokirjon Almatov later wrote about the incident, noting that several heads of state sent letters of condolence to President Islam Karimov on the same day.  

To honor the victims and express condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the attack, President Islam Karimov issued a decree on February 17, 1999, declaring February 18 a National Day of Mourning.  

Reflecting on the attack in an interview with QALAMPIR.UZ, Zokirjon Almatov recalled the nature of terrorism and the mindset behind such acts:  

“You know, you don’t need a great mind to commit terrorist acts. Either they strap a bomb to their waist and commit suicide, or they are brainwashed to the point where they take up arms against their own people, causing destruction through sabotage,” said Zokirjon Almatov.  

Continuing, he described the type of individuals who are often drawn into extremist activities:  

“People who lack education, those who blindly follow certain mullahs, those who do not engage in sports or self-improvement—those who are weak in character, physically and mentally—are the ones who join the ranks of terrorists and take up arms against their own people.”  

Speaking about the perpetrators of the February 16, 1999, attack, Almatov identified their origins and connections:  

“Who carried out this attack? Some of our young men from Andijan, Namangan, and one or two other regions had traveled to Chechnya. They fought in the war there and came under the influence of Khattab, an Arab terrorist. They were trained in his camps, learned how to handle explosives, and then returned to Uzbekistan to commit terrorist acts. The attack was carried out at an unexpected time, in an unexpected situation. Their ultimate goal was to assassinate the President of Uzbekistan, incite unrest among the people, and cause widespread instability.  

Which Uzbek would betray his own people and spill their blood?” said Almatov.  

According to former Minister of Internal Affairs Zokirjon Almatov, the Uzbek government was not caught off guard by the attack. Immediate action was taken, and a special plan was set in motion that same day. Authorities promptly informed the public about the situation, ensuring transparency regarding the perpetrators of the attack.  

“At a meeting in the Supreme Assembly, the head of our state addressed the people. He revealed which extremist organization was responsible for the crimes. At that time, we were given a firm directive to locate the criminals—wherever they were—neutralize them, and bring them to Uzbekistan. Thanks to swift measures, we quickly picked up the trail of those responsible,” said Almatov.  

The February 16 attack left a lasting impact on the officials of that time. Almatov recalled that the government, including himself, faced severe criticism from President Karimov.  

“We received a very strong reprimand from the head of state. The situation caused widespread discontent among our people. There were numerous negative statements and allegations—people asked where the internal affairs officers were, where the law enforcement and security services had been.  If we had lost control and failed to manage the crisis, the consequences would have been far worse. These events occurred due to a lack of operational intelligence. As a result, our people suffered, lives were lost, and significant economic damage was inflicted.  

We took responsibility. But to ensure that such tragedies would never happen again, I publicly apologized to our people during a major televised address, at the Oliy Majlis, and in a nationwide meeting. Our people placed their trust in us. The criminals were identified, and most of them were extradited from Turkey, Russia, and Kazakhstan. All were brought to justice,” said Almatov.