Islam Karimov is dead

[jarnon]

Uzbek President Karimov has died: diplomatic sources

(I may be jumping the gun a bit, as the government of Uzbekisatn hasn't announced his death yet.)

Karimov was the last Communist leader of the Uzbek SSR, and has ruled Uzbekistan since its independence from Moscow. He died Friday after a stroke. His successors are expected to continue his authoritarianism.