Forward from: O'tkirbek
Independence Day is an official national holiday in Uzbekistan, celebrated on the first of September. Fireworks, concerts, competitions, military parades, and wreath laying ceremonies are held in Tashkent during the independence day celebrations.
In 1991, the August Coup in the Soviet capital of Moscow caused many Soviet republics to declare their independence from the Soviet Union. President of the Uzbek SSR, Islam Karimov declared Uzbekistan independent from the USSR on 31 August 1991. That same day, the Supreme Soviet of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on the declaration of independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan and a law on the state independence of Uzbekistan. Once the laws were signed by Karimov, the Uzbek SSR was renamed to the Republic of Uzbekistan. The next day was then declared a national holiday, and a day off from work by the government.
In 1992, Independence Day was celebrated for the first time. President Islam Karimov delivered a speech at the evening event on Independence Square in the Uzbek capital.
