At first Uzbekistan had a competitive political system but by 1995 Karimov had eliminated all opposition.
Meanwhile, Karimov has sought to keep Russia at arm's length.
In response, Karimov launched a far-reaching crackdown on all forms of religious expression not expressly sanctioned by the state.
Subsequently, Karimov tightened controls over political and economic life.
Welcome to Uzbekistan, a country bigger than Germany, with a population of 31 million, where Islam Karimov is now embarking on a fourth term of office, even though the constitution stipulates a two-term maximum for heads of state.
Related: Thousands jailed in Uzbekistan on politically motivated charges, report says Human rights groups also lambasted the election as unconstitutional and unfair, while also noting the Karimov regime's track record of abuses and repression of criticism.
Last month it was announced that Islam Karimov, Uzbekistan's authoritarian president since 1990, had been re-elected for another five years.
Related: Islam Karimov set to reprise presidential role as Uzbekistan heads to the polls This will be his third term under the current constitution, even though that same treaty limits presidents to two terms, an Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe observer mission noted in a report.
But the OSCE observer report on the election catalogued many "legal and organisational shortcomings," noting that slavish media coverage gave Karimov a "clear advantage" and that "proxy voting on behalf of several voters appeared to be universally practised".
Analysts have said the ageing Karimov is trying to postpone a power transition that has recently been complicated by an ugly family feud.
Uzbekistan reaped 3.4 million tons of cotton this year, President Islam Karimov said in October in a gushing message of thanks to Uzbekistan's cotton farmers for their "difficult and diligent labour".
