29 December 1991: the independence referendum and first presidential election
On 29 December 1991 Uzbekistan held two votes on a single day: a referendum confirming independence (98.26% in favor) and the first direct presidential election (Islam Karimov 87.14%, Muhammad Solih 12.49%). Sourced history with exact dates and figures.
Uzbekistan had declared independence on 31 August 1991. Four months later, on 29 December, two votes were held at once — a nationwide referendum confirming independence, and the first direct presidential election in the country's history. Below these events are set out with exact dates and official figures, on the basis of sources.
Context: why it went to a vote
On 31 August 1991, at an extraordinary session of the Supreme Council, independence was declared and the country was renamed from the “Uzbek SSR” to the “Republic of Uzbekistan.” The USSR was formally dissolved on 26 December 1991. Uzbekistan was the only former Soviet republic to hold an independence referendum after the USSR had already dissolved: the 29 December vote was meant to confirm the declared independence by popular will.
The 29 December referendum
The question put to voters was: “Do you approve of the state independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan proclaimed by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Uzbekistan?” According to the official result, 98.26% of those voting (9,718,155 votes) said “yes,” and 1.74% (172,294 votes) said “no.” Turnout was about 94%; the number of registered voters was 10,515,066.
The first presidential election
On the same day — 29 December — the first direct presidential election in the country's history was also held. Two candidates competed: the incumbent leader, Islam Karimov, backed by the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, and the leader of the Erk (Freedom) Democratic Party, the poet Muhammad Solih. According to the official result, Islam Karimov won 87.14% (8,514,136 votes) and Muhammad Solih 12.49% (1,220,474 votes); “against all” accounted for 0.37% (36,525 votes).
This remained the only Uzbek presidential election with a genuine, competitive opposition candidate — every subsequent election featured only token opposition. On the count itself: early, unofficial results were reported to show a much closer race, after which a revised count gave Karimov a first-round victory; independent observers disputed the official tally and judged the election “neither free nor fair.” Muhammad Solih himself later told the US Helsinki Commission he believed he had actually received about 30%. These disputed assessments are presented as historical facts; the official figures are 87.14% / 12.49%.
The dates that led in
The steps toward independence: on 24 March 1990 Islam Karimov was elected President of the Uzbek SSR by the Supreme Council (491 in favor, 7 against); on 20 June 1990 the Uzbek SSR adopted its Declaration of Sovereignty, giving its own laws precedence over Soviet law; the failure of the August 1991 coup attempt in Moscow directly prompted the independence declaration; and on 31 August independence was declared (Independence Day is celebrated on 1 September).
What followed
A referendum held on 26 March 1995 extended Islam Karimov's presidential term to 2000 in place of a scheduled election; according to the official result it was approved by 99.6%. The opposition candidate Muhammad Solih resigned from parliament in June 1992, was arrested in April 1993, then went into exile (Azerbaijan, then Turkey); after the 1999 Tashkent bombings he was sentenced in absentia to 15 years and continued to lead Erk from abroad.
Overall historical significance: the 29 December 1991 vote was the turning point that anchored the declared independence in popular will. The referendum and the presidential election were held on a single election day, with 10,515,066 registered voters.
