Uzbek men what they like in women. What you need to know about men and life in Uzbekistan

Technicians

01.08.2014 14:56 msk, Personal info.

According to Sharia, every Muslim can take four wives. IN Uzbekistan The majority of the population professes Islam, but secular law prohibits polygamy. However, many men, hiding behind religious canons, strive to have a mistress, and these mistresses strive to obtain the status of a second wife. The economic situation in the country, which does not allow people, and especially women, to honestly earn money that would be enough to adequately support their family, turns this process into something natural and commonplace...

Larisa (hereinafter all names have been changed) is Mahmud’s second wife. Larisa is Russian, Mahmud is Uzbek. We got together twelve years ago and gave birth to a boy, who is already ten. Larisa tells everyone that she is married, just living in a civil marriage, and her husband is very busy at work. He appears at Larisa’s two or three times a week. He drops by a couple of times for “lunch” and stays overnight once. Larisa doesn’t know how she gets away with it at home during this overnight stay. But he knows for sure that Mahmud’s first wife knows nothing about his second family.

Being a second wife is a small happiness

As Larisa says, she decided to have a second child and the role of a second wife out of financial despair. The work paid me pennies, there were no prospects, and there were no suitable suitors to become their first wife. And Mahmud, although he had no intention of divorcing his “first” wife, with whom he had two children, promised Larisa mountains of gold. And ensure that the child does not need anything, and Larisa herself is covered from head to toe with gifts and money.

But Mahmud’s business didn’t work out; he works hard as a simple worker at a construction site. Of course, it helps the second family. But far from what Larisa expected. And by and large, she and her son still live on the same pennies that they receive from their work. Not so much because of sexual hunger, but in retaliation for unfulfilled promises, he quietly walks “to the left.” The common-law husband guesses about this, but cannot catch his second wife by the hand. As a result, his visits to “dinner” often end in scandal.

However, Larisa is lucky: Mahmud is not going to break up with her, but on the contrary, plans to hold a nikoh in the mosque - a religious ceremony that, at least in heaven, will somehow legitimize their marriage. This means that he will continue to support his child to the best of his ability. Larisa herself is not able to do this with dignity. She works in a grocery store, where she is paid only 300-400 thousand soums a month. Even according to the most conservative estimates of independent economists, this is minimum amount per person so that he does not die of hunger...

Economics versus morality

There are more and more women like Larisa in Uzbekistan. And it is very difficult to condemn her. The discrepancy between salaries and the real needs of the population forces people to adapt.

If you analyze the socio-economic state of society in Uzbekistan, it turns out that only officials and large entrepreneurs live very well here. Smaller entrepreneurs, which include farmers, live well when they make ends meet. Pensioners live on money sent to them by their children from abroad. The rest are forced to get out. They usually get out by the most in a simple way: men go abroad to work, and women look for wealthy lovers or, what they prefer, become “second” wives.

However, you cannot officially become a second wife in Uzbekistan. The legislation of Uzbekistan reliably protects marriage, especially from polygamy. The Criminal Code of the Republic deals with this phenomenon in Article 126, which reads:

“Polygamy, that is, cohabitation with two or more women on the basis of a common household, is punishable by a fine of fifty to one hundred minimum wages or correctional labor for up to three years, or imprisonment for up to three years.”

“Where is the discussion in the Oliy Majlis”?

Most “second” wives put up with civil marriage, but this option of cohabitation has its own flaw. If, for example, something happens to their common-law husband, then the second wife cannot count on any, even the smallest share of the inheritance from his property.

In this regard, there are now many people in Uzbekistan who would like to legalize the institution of polygamy.

I once heard on the radio a speech by women from Bukhara who wanted to submit such a proposal for discussion in the Oliy Majlis (parliament) of the republic, says human rights activist Shukhrat Rustamov. - True, I have not heard the deputies discuss such an issue.

According to Rustamov, every “rich man” has long had several wives. At the same time, they consider all their wives to be legitimate, because a religious marriage ceremony - nikoh - was concluded with them in the mosque. True, ministers of religion are strictly forbidden to read nikoh if the newlyweds do not have a marriage certificate. But, as the human rights activist claims, “the problem can easily be solved by one and a half stacks of money. Not in this mosque, but in the next one.”

But official registration of marriage with a second wife could socially protect this woman and her children, Rustamov believes.

In the future - discord between the heirs

Many supporters of the legalization of polygamy talk about the meaning of Sharia law allowing each man to have four wives. They say that when taking a girl as a wife, in the old days a man had to pay a bride price - a bride price. This means that only very wealthy people could have four wives. Four wives gave birth to a dozen or two children, among whom, after the death of the father, his wealth was divided. As a result, a “middle” class was formed, and a balance between the poor and the rich was maintained in society.

As for the poor, they had to work in order to save up for their living expenses, and the idle ones had to do without a wife and children.

According to supporters of polygamy, given the current socio-economic situation in the republic, which has divided society into the very rich and the very poor, the same must be done now in order to “not breed poverty.”

Several million men, many of whom are not yet married, work abroad, which has left women without men and without money, says lawyer Tursunoy Pulatova.

But she herself is categorically against the institution of polygamy, since she believes that in the future this will certainly lead to discord between the heirs, and these discords will in no way contribute to strengthening the family as a unit of society.

And many women are completely hostile to the idea of polygamy.

There is nothing more immoral when a man has a relationship with two women at once, says Elena Urlaeva, a well-known human rights activist in Uzbekistan. In her opinion, the state must decisively combat this “immoral phenomenon.” At the same time, according to the human rights activist, it is in vain to imagine the women of Uzbekistan as “a kind of gagged herd of sheep who will do whatever they are told.”

“There are women in Uzbek villages”

So, while maintaining the size of the verse, you can paraphrase a line from Nekrasov’s poem. In Uzbek villages, and in cities too, there are enough women who will stop a galloping horse, enter a burning hut, and, if something goes wrong, hit their husband between the eyes with a frying pan. At the same time, they will heat you up so much that it won’t seem like much. Hanging out with such women, much less starting a second family, is extremely risky.

Here is one of the striking examples. Erkin and Muhabbat got married when they were twenty. Both are children of influential and wealthy parents, very talented people, rare handsome men, even now on the cover of some glossy magazine. They went into business, their talents allowed them not to steal, but to honestly become very wealthy people. But when they were approaching forty, and the children were already grown, Erkin became inflamed with passion for his young twenty-year-old employee. It is not known whether he wanted to divorce his first wife and marry an employee, as required by law, or make her his second wife. It is only known that Muhabbat’s first wife somehow found out about her husband’s impending affair. The consequences turned out to be very tragic and revealing.

Muhabbat came to the organization where her husband’s company rented an office and asked the janitor for a “heavier hammer.” When such a beauty asks something from an old watchman who has long been out of print among women, he does not ask “why,” he thinks “how.” The watchman, turning inside out, found the required hammer

And Muhabbat approached the brand new Nexia, shining with paint - her gift to Erkin, and without hysteria, began methodically breaking glass, headlights, doors and other easily damaged car attributes with this hammer. A crowd gathered around, including the unfaithful husband, and everyone looked at this massacre with their mouths open. And the offended beauty, having finished the execution, politely returned the hammer to the watchman, returned home, threw her husband’s little things out the gate, filed for divorce and won’t let Erkin on the doorstep anymore.

What woman would agree with a second wife?

If Muhabbat considered it beneath her dignity to even condescend to have some kind of conversation with her rival, then not all legal wives act in this way. Moreover, the consequences for the second wife may not be very pleasant.

A friend once told the mother of three children, Nargiza, about her suspicions: your husband Hamid has another woman, he is often late at work. Nargiza decided to check, followed her husband and caught him with a young lady. During the scandal, it turned out that Hamid had been living with this woman for five years, and this was no longer a lady at all, but his second wife, with whom his son was growing up.

The situation was “settled” at the council of relatives, where it was by no means the last word was behind Nargiza. The council decided not to abandon the child from his second wife and to help him as much as possible. But all this help is now provided exclusively by the grandmother - Nargiza’s mother. Hamid sees his son and second wife only occasionally and under the close supervision of his legal wife.

Moreover, both of these stories can be attributed to aristocratic reprisals against husbands who decided to take a second wife. “People’s” reprisals are more primitive and painful in nature. If the deceived wife herself does not have the strength to properly punish her husband, then her numerous brothers and other relatives can be brought into the matter.

Moreover, not only the natural jealousy of a woman who does not want to share her man with anyone and reacts painfully to betrayal plays a role here. The appearance of a second wife for a husband means an outflow of money from the house. He would have brought it home, but he drags it to the side. Where have you seen a woman, even the richest, who would say that she has extra money lying around at home?

Not all legitimate wives act as nobly as Nargiza. And their children, having become adults, often bitterly sue their half-brothers and sisters, to whom their father “illegally” left a house or car.

Therefore, men, no matter how much they show off in front of their friends, in fact, as a rule, hide from their legal wives the presence of a “second wife” on the side. As they say, out of harm's way. And they are unlikely to actually want polygamy to be legalized. At least until all women in Uzbekistan become submissive and speechless. But this is unlikely to ever happen.

If you are madly in love with an Uzbek man and agree to do anything to be with him, you should definitely read this article, written by a Russian woman who married an Uzbek man 6 years ago, especially for the site.

About Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is located in the heart of Central Asia, and it was through it that the Great Silk Road once passed. Usually Russians and residents of other countries imagine our country as a very backward state, in which residents ride donkeys and wear only national clothes and live in mud houses.

And often those who come to the country are surprised that everything is different here, however, this applies mainly to Tashkent and the Tashkent region. Indeed, the capital region is completely different, much more modern and tolerant, for example, of the shorts and tops that girls like to wear.

As for the regions, in general, girls rarely go out alone on the street, without being accompanied by male relatives, not to mention wearing revealing clothes. In general, there are fewer and fewer people of European nationalities - many leave for permanent residence in Russia, Kazakhstan, the USA, etc., so the indigenous population noticeably predominates.

As for the national composition of the country, more than 80% of the inhabitants are Uzbeks, then there are Russians, Tajiks, Kazakhs, Karakalpaks, Tatars, Koreans, Kyrgyz, etc., but I’ll say right away that you can count the Russians outside the Tashkent region on one hand, they mostly live there indigenous Uzbeks, and if by chance you meet representatives of other nationalities, they usually speak the state language as their native language.

Now about the climate. Indeed, the weather and climate in Uzbekistan are favorable, although it is very hot in summer, but quite dry ( low humidity), so 40 degrees scares few people. Autumn and spring are beautiful - autumn is warm, you can wear a light windbreaker until December, the rains are rarely cold and long.

Spring is the most delightful time of the year, it begins at the end of February and already turns into summer in mid-May. Everything is blooming, fragrant, light breeze, gentle sun, rain is rare and very warm and gentle. But the most beautiful spring is in the mountains! The spurs of the Tien Shan range are magnificent - many residents of the capital region go there for a weekend getaway every summer, and in the spring poppies and tulips bloom there, and the mountains themselves resemble Switzerland.

About Tashkent

If you met an Uzbek man and he charmed you at first sight (by the way, modern educated guys are great at seducing Russian women), you should first find out where he was born and raised. Usually it’s better not to mess with guys from the regions - the Eastern mentality is too strong there, which sooner or later will make itself felt, even if the young man is very European and easily communicates in Russian.

At the same time, Tashkent men are considered more stingy and prudent, although there are exceptions everywhere.

Nevertheless, life in the capital, even of Uzbekistan, is the most acceptable option for a Russian girl who has decided to connect her life with an Uzbek. The fact is that life in Uzbekistan and life in Tashkent are two different things. In the capital you will meet quite a lot of representatives of national minorities, including Russians, there are parks, theaters, exhibition halls and galleries, and there is much more entertainment compared to the regions.

In addition, in Tashkent itself, many Uzbeks speak Russian, so there should be no problems with communication. Moreover, some families are so modern that even the state language is used in communication less often than Russian.

By the way, interesting point– if at the bazaar you speak Uzbek when buying groceries, and even bargain expertly, a lower price awaits you, so learning the language, at least for everyday communication, is very advisable, especially since it is much easier than Russian.

About Uzbek men

If you decide to get married in Uzbekistan, take your time and get to know your chosen one properly. Of course, during the courtship period, all men become princes on white horses, but it is better to take off the rose-colored glasses before marriage.

Let's get acquainted with the types of Uzbek men that can be distinguished:

1. The most unfortunate option is that the guy came to Russia to work, he himself is from some Yangiaryk somewhere in the Kashkadarya region, hard-working, cheerful and kind, but he doesn’t know Russian well, has no education, and he came here because he’s at home His mother, father, 5-6 brothers and sisters are waiting for him, who need to be married off, and this is all money.

It is quite possible that this naive comrade will go to great lengths, since where he lives, they have never heard of the opportunities and temptations that are encountered at every step in Russia. We run away from this and away. There are examples of such stories, alas, on our forum.

2. It happens that a man comes to work, already knowing how to do something, more or less literate and educated, also hard-working without bad habits. He can charm you with his homeliness, thriftiness, masculinity, and many Eastern men are very sensitive to children, and perhaps you will even want a child from him.

However, it is always worth remembering one “but” - sooner or later he will want to return to his homeland, or he may not even want to, but circumstances will force him (his parents are sick, his sister’s wedding). And if he leaves, no one guarantees that he will return.

3. This option is similar to the previous one: he can charm you with his masculinity, reliability and stability, but it is likely that this comrade will have a wife and 3-4 children at home, whom he supports. And very rarely, or rather, almost never, Uzbek men do not leave their wives - it is much more convenient for them to combine.

4. Perhaps the most optimistic option is a promising young man, modern, independent, but most importantly - with the same modern parents, preferably those who moved from Uzbekistan for permanent residence somewhere in Europe... Yes, yes, there are such Uzbek men, and even those who received an excellent education. In this case, you will not be overwhelmed by the need to build your life at the behest of his parents, which is so common in Uzbekistan itself.

About family life

First of all, the Uzbek mentality is such that it is the wife who adapts and even bends, not only to her husband, but also to his close relatives: parents, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. And your task is to please them, preferably at first sight. By the way, often the daughter-in-law plays the role of a maid, cooking for the whole family, washing, cleaning for everyone, setting the table, even though she also works from morning to evening.

The Uzbek mentality often does not allow saying something unpleasant directly to your face, so the mother-in-law can smile sweetly and be kind and immediately wash your bones thoroughly behind your back. However, she is an unquestioned authority, including for your husband, who in case of conflict will almost always take her side.

Usually an Uzbek family, even an international one, is a modern house-building - it is the woman who is responsible for the comfort in the house, preparing food with her own hands, and raising children. Before the husband arrives, hot tea is brewed, a hot dinner is prepared, the wife meets her husband and looks after him, even though she also works. This is the East [Read about the characteristics of Muslim wives in. Editor's note]

An Uzbek husband may well tell you not to wear open blouses or short skirts, and this despite the fact that sometimes in Tashkent you can meet very openly dressed Uzbek women. However, women here are also not so simple, and although nominally the head of the family is a man, the wife usually manages a lot, including the distribution of finances. However, if earlier the Eastern wife sat at home, today many Uzbek wives work, and, by the way, mothers-in-law prefer daughters-in-law who graduated from a medical or pedagogical university, so that she would also bring benefit to the family.

However, a lot depends on the character of the husband himself - he may turn out to be very modern and will allow you everything you want - I have a lot of positive examples of such marriages (including my own), in which Uzbek husbands and Korean wives, Russians or Tatars live in love and harmony, they find great mutual language, meet each other halfway and find compromises.

About raising children

The attitude towards children in Uzbekistan is very interesting. The mentality of Uzbeks is such that they love children very sincerely and in a special way, although they may not invest in their development and education. From birth, babies are surrounded by great love and universal adoration, they are nursed and fussed over, but at the same time, from the age of one year or even earlier, they are taught to respect adults, especially towards their father.

By the way, you may be shocked by such relics as feeding an infant with juices already from 2-3 months, and the most unexpected thing is that instead of a pacifier, the baby may be offered a piece of lard (dumba), wrapped in gauze. But don’t be alarmed, the last word remains with the baby’s mother.

In Uzbekistan, the majority of young mothers breastfeed, and if in the capital breast-feeding stop at 1.5-2 years, then in the regions they can allow the child to breastfeed almost until 6-7 years.

By the way, in traditional families, the mother-in-law often helps the young daughter-in-law with the baby - she can go for a walk, shop, play with him, while the young mother does household chores or leaves home.

The big advantage of Tashkent, in particular, is that placing a child in kindergarten is not a problem at all, but rather a matter of money. The kindergartens are accepted from the age of two, in groups of 20-30 people, cost state kindergartens– 25-35 dollars per month, private – from 250 and above.

Another point is that it is very rare for Uzbekistan if there are less than three children in a family. In the regions, even today, women give birth to 4-5 children, but, to be honest, according to my observations, they may not invest much in them - a child can go to school at the age of 7 without knowing how to read and write.

In Tashkent, the trends are different - here women get married a little later, but they also try until they are 25, give birth to 2-3 children and prefer to send them to Russian-speaking groups and classes, as they are stronger in terms of education.

About food

You've probably heard about the cult of food in Uzbekistan. And this is the absolute truth. Uzbek women cook a lot; on all holidays (and there are a lot of them), each mother of the family comes with a large basin in which hot puff samsa, belyashi, meat pies or kebabs rest.

Then it’s all laid out on plates and placed on tables, which are literally bursting with treats. That is why every daughter-in-law after the wedding almost always lives with her mother-in-law for the first six months, shows her skills and at the same time learns how to cook what her husband likes to eat.

The following points may scare you:

· almost all first and second courses are very fatty,

· pilaf is prepared in traditional families only with cottonseed oil (including to save money),

· a lot of animal fat is used,

· Women bake a lot and often.

For example, when I got married, it was my mother-in-law who taught me how to make real pilaf, roll out the dough into a large thin sheet and pull the Uyghur lagman. In addition, if a young daughter-in-law lives not far from her mother-in-law, she will definitely treat her husband’s parents with cooked food, mainly baked goods or main courses.

Remember, there are exceptions to any rules, so perhaps your marriage with an Uzbek will be somewhat different (not the same as I described above). In any case, I wish all readers of the site that they family life turned out great, regardless of the nationality of your chosen one.

August 12, 2014

Uzbekistan is a country with a long history, located in the very heart of the Great Silk Road. Some cities of Uzbekistan are more than 2 thousand years old; ancient states once flourished on its territory. The current sovereign Uzbekistan is the heir to the Uzbek SSR, which was considered one of the most developed republics within Soviet Union. On August 31, 1991, Uzbekistan declared its sovereignty. Today's life in this country bears little resemblance to the Soviet past. The republic is part of the CIS. The state's foreign policy is aimed at increasing its international prestige and strengthening interregional ties. The country's government officially announced its neutrality and refusal to join military-political blocs.

Uzbekistan yesterday and today

At the time of the annexation of the territory of modern Uzbekistan to the Russian Empire, which took place in the second half of the 19th century, there were three independent states within its borders: the Kokand and Khiva khanates, as well as the Bukhara Emirate. The entry of the khanates into the empire passed peacefully, but the army of Bukhara was defeated by Russian troops. After the revolution of 1917, the Uzbeks put up fierce resistance to Soviet power, which was finally suppressed only in the 30s of the 20th century.

Participants in the partisan movement were called Basmachi.

During its period as part of the USSR, Uzbekistan transformed from a backward colonial territory into a modern industrial and agricultural country.

In Uzbekistan, as in any other republic of the post-Soviet space, traces of the Soviet system are still visible. They are felt in the mentality of Uzbeks, they can be seen in the actions and attitudes of officials, in the everyday behavior of people. A guest who sets foot on Uzbek soil for the first time is overwhelmed by the feeling that a time machine is not science fiction. Uzbekistan is developing disproportionately. The service sector lags significantly behind other sectors of the economy; private business requires further self-assertion. A significant part of the economy is the public sector. The main reforms in cultural life are aimed at accepting and following Islamic traditions.

Geographical and climatic features

In terms of territory (447,400 sq. km), Uzbekistan ranks 56th among the countries of the world. 5% of the area belongs to the water surface of the Aral Sea. The climate is sharply continental, arid, with a large difference in daily temperatures.

The main cities are located in the valleys of large rivers. Uzbekistan itself is located in the very heart of Central Asia. It borders Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan. The state is well and harmoniously integrated into the economy and politics of the region. Environmental cleanliness is at the proper level, since there are not many operating industrial enterprises in the country.

In 2016, 31 million 807 thousand people lived in the country. The population density was almost 76 people per square kilometer. Uzbekistan ranks 41st in the world in terms of population. The urbanization rate is slightly above 50%.

The main cities of the country are its capital Tashkent (2 million 352 thousand inhabitants), Samarkand (510 thousand), Namangan (476 thousand), Andijan (403 thousand). In 2009, the country carried out an administrative reform, which transferred almost a thousand large rural settlements to the category of cities. As a result, the urbanization rate increased sharply from 35 to 50%.

In terms of population, the Republic of Uzbekistan became the third in the CIS. More residents only in Russian Federation and Ukraine.

average life expectancy

The country has a high birth rate and many young people. Population growth is 2.2% per year. The average life expectancy is 72.9 years. Men live 70.6 years, women - 75.1 years. The last population census was carried out back in 1989.

What nationalities live in Uzbekistan

The national composition and numbers are determined by periodic assessments by the UN and the government of Uzbekistan. Recent data shows that the country is home to more than 25 major nationalities. 82% of the population are ethnic Uzbeks, 4.8% belong to Tajiks, Russians are in third place - 2.6%, and Kyrgyz are in fourth place with 1.4%.

The number of ethnic Ukrainians in the republic is estimated at 105 thousand people, and Belarusians at 20 thousand. Smaller nations are Tatars, Karakalpaks, Tajiks, etc. These figures are approximate, accuracy is within the limits of statistical error.

Religion, language and traditions of the Uzbeks 93% of the population professes Islam. It is recognized as the official religion of the country.

The Sunni direction predominates, Shiites make up no more than 1%. Orthodox make up 4%, Catholics - 3%. The Constitution of Uzbekistan declares it a secular state. Islam, however, as in any Muslim country, significantly influences all spheres of life in Uzbek society. There are 2,050 mosques, madrassas and Islamic centers in Uzbekistan.

For comparison, in 1980 there were only 89 mosques in the Uzbek SSR. Ancient Samarkand is considered the spiritual capital of the Uzbeks. There are 175 in the country Orthodox churches

The official language of the country is Uzbek. The Russian language is widely spoken in Uzbekistan and is considered the second most important language. It is spoken by most of the population, especially urban ones. Despite the fact that Russian does not have official status, a large percentage of document flow is conducted in it. Almost all documentation is duplicated in Russian. You can watch, listen and read many TV shows, radio programs, and printed publications in Russian.

Almost the entire older generation knows Russian. Young people also know a little, but are unlikely to speak it. That is, if you need to find out something from a passerby, it is better to ask someone who is older.

At school, studying the Russian language is compulsory from the first grade. There are 848 schools in the country in which Russian is the main language of instruction. Some universities also provide training on it. From the first grade, compulsory learning of English has been introduced in schools.

In the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan, Karakalpak is considered the official language.

Family and attitude towards women

Uzbek traditions are ancient, they began in the mists of time, in prosperous Bukhara, sultry Samarkand, mysterious Khiva.

Uzbek society is dominated by men; in rural areas, women are still prohibited from appearing in public with their faces uncovered, but this tradition does not apply today in all regions of the country.

Uzbek families, as a rule, have many children. It is considered normal if there are five or even ten children in a family. Islam allows a man to have up to four wives. National traditions and customs are jealously protected and observed, especially in the provinces. Much is determined by Sharia law.

The vast majority of Uzbeks are hospitable and friendly people. Guests are always warmly received here; this is one of the national traditions. Citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan love and are proud of their country, they are sincerely patriotic. Therefore, when arriving in Uzbekistan, you should under no circumstances insult the national dignity of the Uzbeks.

The country's cities are more modern; today's Uzbeks cannot be accused of either technical or cultural backwardness. The most cosmopolitan cities of Uzbekistan (Tashkent, Andijan) can even boast of the presence of women in business. There are also many of them in the field of education and culture. Uzbeks are much more relaxed and modern in their attitude towards women than their neighbors in Tajikistan or Afghanistan.

Russians in Uzbekistan

Russians began to come to the country at the end of the century before last. During Soviet times, migration intensified: many people went to improve the economy, healthcare, and public education of the Central Asian republic. A significant part of the ethnic Russians who settled on Uzbek soil were military personnel who received housing after retirement, as well as members of their families.

With the republic's secession from the Soviet Union, the situation changed dramatically. Many ethnic Russians left sovereign Uzbekistan as interethnic problems worsened, the threat of Islamization loomed, and an explosive situation created in the Central Asian region. For decades after the collapse of the Union, the situation of Russians in Uzbekistan has not caused much joy. Since the late 80s, hundreds of thousands of representatives of the Russian people have left the territory. Their approximate number in the republic today is about one million people. In general, the situation with interethnic relations now looks quite acceptable, despite individual manifestations of nationalism by Uzbek radicals.

The ethnic composition of the country's population has changed significantly since the collapse of the USSR. In addition to the Russians, Uzbekistan left a large number of Ukrainians, Germans, Meskhetian Turks and Jews. At the end of the 80s, the contradictions between the Uzbeks and the Meskhetian Turks escalated to the extreme, which led to bloodshed.

To live in Uzbekistan, you need to know and follow the customs of the country. It cannot be said that a person with a Slavic appearance is perceived with hostility by local residents. Rather, they closely monitor him and his behavior and respect for the local mentality and traditions.

Full integration into Uzbek society is most likely impossible for an immigrant from Russia and other Slavic countries. It is closed and conservative. Despite the fact that there are practically no religious conflicts in the country, the Orthodox are treated somewhat warily.

Video: how Russians live in Uzbekistan now

The economic basis of modern Uzbekistan was created during the Soviet period. Agriculture is focused on growing cotton and grains. The country ranks third in the world in terms of cotton export volumes, and sixth in terms of production. The share of agriculture in GDP is 17%. In addition to cotton and wheat, vegetables and melons are grown in the country's fields. About 95% of agricultural products are produced by dehkans (farmers).

Uzbekistan took 11th place in the world ranking of gas exporters, fifth in uranium production, and the total gold reserves in the Uzbek subsoil place it in fourth place in the world. The share of industrial production in GDP was 24%, more than 50% is occupied by the service sector. The country is actively exploring and further developing mineral deposits; they constitute a significant part of exports.

Thus, oil reserves in Uzbekistan are estimated by experts at 5 billion tons, gas reserves at more than 5 trillion cubic meters.

The country's subsoil also contains large reserves of coal. An important gas pipeline from Central Asia to China passes through the territory of Uzbekistan. The main part of the country's industry is cotton production, food and engineering enterprises, and ferrous metallurgy.

Daily life in modern Uzbekistan

Life in the country is gradually improving. Economic growth is stable at about 7% per year. Accordingly, new jobs and opportunities for business development appear. The government constantly attracts foreign investment by concluding agreements at the government level. But for a foreigner who does not have connections in high circles, opening his own business can be difficult.

It is worth noting that official government statements stand in stark contrast to the feedback from ordinary residents of the country. Uzbekistan is a state with authoritarian rule.

IN last years a reform was carried out, as a result of which taxes in the republic were significantly reduced. For example, the income tax today is 7.5%, and for small commercial enterprises the rate of unified social payment has been reduced (from 28 to 15%).

Budget spending on education is 6%, and on health care - 11.5%.

Secondary education is compulsory and free. Parents of schoolchildren are charged money only for the use of textbooks. The higher education system is well developed and has two levels. There are seven state universities in the country; most young specialists have diplomas from Uzbek universities. Since 2004, distance learning has been abolished.

The national currency of Uzbekistan is the sum. One US dollar is equal to 3,250 soums at the official exchange rate. On the black market the rate is incomparably higher. Here they ask about 6,100 soums for a dollar. Individuals can buy currency only by bank transfer. The maximum amount of currency purchased cannot exceed 2 thousand dollars and requires submitting an application to the bank. It is completed within two to three months. Air tickets can only be purchased in foreign currency. As a rule, in cash. Therefore, the black currency market is thriving.

Video: review of life in Tashkent

The standard of living of the average resident of Uzbekistan today cannot be called high. One can observe a significant difference between a city, especially a large one, and a province. In terms of living standards, the Republic of Uzbekistan ranks 138th in the world out of 193. Each citizen accounts for $2,090 of GDP.

Salaries in the republic are significantly lower than in economically prosperous countries. The minimum wage is revised upward every year. So, in October 2016, it was raised by 15%, and social payments were also increased. The minimum salary in Uzbekistan is 149,775 soums per month ($46 at the official rate).

The most popular professions now among Russian youth in Tashkent are waiter, DJ, hairdresser, cosmetologist, as well as computer designer, operator or system administrator. In these areas of activity, our skills, albeit artisanal, but real, acquired through practice, are still in demand without a strict connection with higher or special education. And young people often strive first of all to occupy any “free niche” that comes up, and only then think about education, prospects for professional and career growth. We must admit that they unconsciously learned this by looking at us. More precisely, that part of the older generation of Russians for whom the ability to adapt to surrounding conditions and humble their ambitions has become almost the main character trait.

To a foreigner coming from a developed Western European country, prices in Uzbekistan will seem simply ridiculous. But the indigenous people are not laughing at all. This is due to low incomes.

A square meter of housing in a new building in a residential area of Tashkent will cost the buyer about 600 dollars, the same meter in the center will cost 1060. Rent of a one-room apartment in a residential area is 180 dollars, a similar apartment in the center is 220 dollars.

The products cannot be called cheap. For example, a kilogram of potatoes costs 50 cents, a kilogram of rice costs $1.85, a dozen eggs costs one and a half dollars, a loaf of bread costs 26 cents, and a liter of milk costs $1.83. A pack of cigarettes costs about 80 cents, a bottle of vodka costs about $3. Food prices are approximately the same throughout the country.

It is customary to bargain at the eastern bazaar. If the buyer does not do this, then he is not taken seriously. On the contrary, the bargainer is seen as a worthy person. On the market you can reduce the price by half, or even three. This rule is true for any oriental bazaar.

Video: how much do groceries cost in Tashkent

The minimum pension in the country is 292,940 soums (a little over $90). In the absence of the required experience, it will be 179,755 soums, and people with disabilities since childhood receive 292,730 soums monthly. Men retire when they reach 60 years of age and have 25 years of work experience, and women - at 55 years of age (with 20 years of work experience).

Where is it better for ordinary people to live?

The income of residents of a certain area is directly affected by the degree of its development. Tashkent traditionally has the highest incomes. Here the average salary is considered to be 300 dollars, in Samarkand this figure is slightly lower - 250 dollars, and in Andijan the rated income will be considered to be 200 dollars. The city of Shavat will become somewhat more promising - its residents earn an average of $255. The lowest average salary in the city of Urgench is only $147. Much depends on the person’s profession. High (for Uzbekistan) salaries for workers in oil and gas production enterprises, in geological exploration, and in the financial sector. There are currently branches of 26 different banks in the country.

Shavat is considered the most expensive city, followed by Tashkent.

It is easier for a person with an education that is in demand in the labor market to live in large cities. Here he has the prospect of finding a relatively high-paying job in an innovative company, banking, etc. In the city he will have to spend more on living. But there are also much more prospects. Work in the field of oil and gas production in the regions may be of significant interest. The highest salaries in the country can be observed here. Foreign specialists are in demand and can find work in this sector of the economy for good money.

The standard of living in rural areas is much lower. The government of the country has set a course for the development of farming. Among them, most are small, but there are also medium and very large. Farming (dehkan farming) has been inherent in the Uzbek mentality from time immemorial. That is why the population fiercely resisted Soviet collectivization. And today there are relatively few large agricultural producers in Uzbekistan; the bulk of the products are grown by small ones.

The income of the average resident of a remote village is equivalent to the minimum wages in the country. Farmers are considered a privileged caste, their income is directly proportional to the amount of labor invested in the land and the quality of the harvest. Agricultural production is most developed in the fertile areas of the Amu Darya and Syrdarya rivers. From time immemorial, they have been the basis of agriculture in the region in which present-day Uzbekistan is located. The income of the owner of a small farm is $200 per month. This amount is conditional, since farmers receive the main profit during the harvest.

It should be noted that Uzbek legislation does not allow the possibility of dual citizenship. If a citizen of Uzbekistan receives a passport from another country, then he may well be deprived of Uzbek citizenship.

A ticket on a city bus will cost about 40 cents. The price of a taxi fare varies greatly depending on the region, as well as on whether the taxi driver represents a company or works as a private taxi driver. In the latter case, the cost will be significantly higher. The average taxi fare in Tashkent is approximately 30–40 cents per kilometer. But local bombers can easily rip off even a dollar from an inexperienced foreigner.

The country has a severe currency shortage. Therefore, when arriving in Uzbekistan, you should remember that none of the services in the country, with the exception of air tickets, are sold for either dollars or euros. When entering or leaving, the amount of currency should be strictly controlled, since the amount exported must be less than the amount imported. It is better to exchange at official exchange offices, although illegal buyers can give much more. It is better not to mess with the latter, since the black market for currency is extremely criminalized.

The price of a trip by bus or train on an intercity route directly depends on the comfort of the vehicle and the distance. The cost of traveling one hundred kilometers by intercity bus will cost approximately eight dollars. The transport network in Uzbekistan is well developed. The country's central roads are well-paved, but the same cannot be said about secondary roads. Chinese companies took an active part in the construction of highways.

The price of A-95 gasoline at gas stations in Tashkent is about 4 thousand soums. Despite the fact that Uzbekistan produces and processes its own oil, the country experiences a noticeable fuel shortage.

Until October 2016, the fuel business flourished, when A-80 gasoline was sold in remote regions at double the price compared to gas stations in Tashkent. By his decree, President Islam Karimov introduced equal fuel prices for the entire country. Also, on all television channels, radio and in the press, citizens were informed of a helpline, through which the latter are obliged to report illegal transactions in fuel, inflated prices at gas stations, as well as resale by private individuals. By the way, the cost of gasoline is growing in the republic from year to year by about 10%.

Prospects for the country: a look into the future

Over the past 15 years, the economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan has quadrupled. The country's GDP today is more than $55 billion. Economists predict further growth; by 2035, GDP could reach at least $128 billion. That means life ordinary people will improve. The main areas of growth will be a further increase in the volume of mineral production, especially oil and gas.

A significant increase in agricultural production is also expected. Uzbekistan already today claims leadership in the world agricultural market in the export of plums, apples and melons.

Some analysts view Uzbekistan as a potential economic and political leader in the Central Asian region, which will soon overtake Kazakhstan in many indicators.

What you need to know about men and life in Uzbekistan

Now about the climate. Indeed, the weather and climate in Uzbekistan are favorable, although in summer it is very hot, but quite dry (low humidity), so 40 degrees scares few people. Autumn and spring are beautiful - autumn is warm, you can wear a light windbreaker until December, the rains are rarely cold and long.

At the same time, Tashkent men are considered more stingy and prudent, although there are exceptions everywhere.

The website of the "Missionary and Apologetic Project "To the Truth" promotes Orthodoxy. For the most part, it does this by comparing some aspects of the life of adherents of other faiths with the Orthodox. In its favor. For apologists. However, the point of view on interethnic marriages as a source of more problems than joy, set out in this article is not typical only of “missionaries”; it occurs among the masses of ordinary people. different nations and religions. Is this point of view a consequence of propaganda? Or is it still dictated by life itself? We are interested in the opinions of our readers.

Married to a “non-Russian”: what does this mean in Central Asia

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, I conducted research in former settler villages founded by immigrants from Russia at the turn of the 20th century in Central Asia. Analyzing the collected materials, I came to an interesting conclusion: the relationship between the settlers and the indigenous population always developed in such a way that a certain distance was certainly maintained between them. Thanks to this, neither the Uzbeks (or representatives of other nations) nor the old-time Slavs, although they lived side by side, risked losing their ethnic identity.

The only case that could change the situation was marriage with a representative of another nation. As a rule, only Slavic women marry into a Muslim family in Central Asia. On the contrary, it happens extremely rarely. It is difficult to meet an Uzbek or Tajik woman who would be the wife of a Russian or Ukrainian.

For a Muslim, marrying a woman of a different faith does not fundamentally violate the norms of Sharia or traditions, while giving a Muslim girl to a man of other faiths is already a serious deviation from the principles accepted in Asian society.

In Uzbek-, Tajik-, Turkmen-Slavic marriages, the nationality of the children is almost always chosen according to the father, a representative of the indigenous population. In families of this type there are more children than in Slavic families, on average, including young couples, 3.5 children per family. Slavic families in Central Asia rarely have more than two children.

In mixed families where the husband is Uzbek, Tajik, Kyrgyz or Turkmen, he usually has a good education and specialty. In the villages where I worked, there were twenty-eight such families. Of these, in eight the spouse was a boss or an employee with a special education, in another nine he was a driver or machine operator, that is, a skilled worker. And in only three families the husband was an ordinary collective farmer - the most common profession among rural Uzbeks and Tajiks.

The life of such families is usually a clear example of the difficulties that await people who decide to have a mixed marriage. This is especially true for women who find themselves in the unusual world of a traditional Muslim family. It is no coincidence that mixed marriages between local Slavic old-timers and representatives of the indigenous population are an extremely rare occurrence. “We live well here with the Uzbeks,” said a resident of the village of Verkhnevolynskoye, Syrdarya region (Uzbekistan), “but their family doesn’t need that.”

Why do old-timers avoid such marriages? Usually the main role is played by cultural differences (“After all, Russians have their own culture, their own nationality, even though they are red-haired and freckled, they are ours”). Some people feel a certain sense of superiority towards “them”: “What a shame! For my daughter or granddaughter to marry an Uzbek!”

Residents of multinational villages know very well how deep the cultural and everyday differences are between Slavic and Central Asian families. At one time, many Russians even strictly forbade their daughters to date Muslim guys, especially Uzbeks, Tajiks and Turks. At the same time, a Tatar, including a Crimean one, was not considered a bad match: “This is a cultural nation...”. Russian-Tatar families are a common occurrence in villages; there are relatively many of them, although some parents try to keep young people from such marriages.

European women who live in marriages with representatives of indigenous nationalities are overwhelmingly not native. The story of their appearance in Central Asia is almost always the same: a young guy was in the army or at school, at work, met a girl, got married, and brought it with him. Several times I met a woman from a local Russian village as a Muslim wife. But there were no exceptions to the rule: it always turned out that she was not one of the old-timers, but came to the republic shortly before her marriage. These were mainly those who were evacuated from central Russia during the war.

Most often, Russian women agree to marry a Muslim, having a very vague and far from reality idea of what awaits them. Many go to Central Asia for reasons of material well-being and cruelly repent on the spot (“There, in Russia, he, the groom, that is, dressed in European style, says that he has three houses here. And they come here - what does she care?” to do in a clay house?"). Often the husband’s relatives do not accept a young daughter-in-law, and circumstances do not allow her to live separately from them. Sometimes they try to separate young people because they have already found a local bride for him without the groom’s consent. Quarrels begin between the mother-in-law and the “freedom-loving” daughter-in-law in Russian. That's why many marriages break up at the very beginning. life together. Most wives go back in such cases.

Some of the young spouses withstand the described tests and then, as a rule, the following happens. Women gradually come to terms with their role as daughters-in-law in a patriarchal family, assimilate the norms of behavior accepted among local residents, learn the language, and ultimately, as informants said, they become completely “domesticated” or “tajicized.” In order to save a marriage in this way, a Russian wife needs enormous patience. Then they begin to consider her as one of their own and treat her well - however, only on the condition that she converts to Islam and follows the customs.

In such cases, dramatic changes occur with women. Their behavior, clothing, conversation, lifestyle sometimes become indistinguishable from local residents. It happens that a woman almost does not remember her native language.

Here are a few short but typical stories: “A Tajik brought one girl from Russia after the army. At first, when she lived here, she cried, came to complain, but now you can’t tell her from a Tajik: by her language, by her clothes (she wears trousers), five She gave birth to children and became similar in appearance"; “She was married to an Uzbek, she became domesticated, her husband beat her on the head...”; “One was brought from Vladimir, very young. She has taken root. She speaks almost no Russian at all. I ask her in Uzbek: - Why did she become like this? - I don’t know...”

However, not all Russian wives, having adopted the Central Asian way of life, completely abandon their culture and upbringing, and religion. Some of them, most often secretly, baptize children, even if the Muslim rites of naming and sunnat have already been performed on the child. In isolated cases, women, being married to Uzbeks or Tajiks, attend church and give their children Russian names. Two somewhat similar examples are the life stories of elderly women, Lyudmila Borisovna and Elizaveta Filippovna from the city of Fergana (Uzbekistan).

The marriage of Lyudmila Borisovna is one of those rare cases when the daughter of a wealthy Fergana landowner married an Uzbek. True, she had known her husband since childhood, and the young people got married during the years of dispossession. Lyudmila Borisovna is highly respected among Uzbeks and she herself looks like an Uzbek in the way she dresses and speaks. At the same time, she managed to maintain her independent character and Orthodox customs.

Elizaveta Filippovna, a native of the Vinnitsa region, met her future husband during the war years in her homeland. She came to Uzbekistan with her little daughter from her first marriage. She lived for several decades (!) with her father-in-law and mother-in-law, never ceasing to resist numerous humiliations and achieving tolerable living conditions for herself and her children. The husband's older relatives did not recognize their half-breed grandchildren; the woman was kicked out of the house more than once, but she could not leave at all - she had no money and did not want to leave her four children. Her eldest daughter- widow. Having been married to an Uzbek, she is already outwardly indistinguishable from an Uzbek woman and speaks neither Russian nor Ukrainian at all, and is even embarrassed by questions about her Slavic origin.

However, if the spouses live not in a village, but in a city or where there is a significant proportion of the Russian population, events may develop differently. It’s especially good if young people have somewhere to live separately. Sometimes in these cases they do not even adequately observe Central Asian norms and customs. They say about such spouses that they “live in Russian” or that “the wife prevails.” As a rule, either the husband or both spouses in such families have education and non-ordinary social status. More often they live this way in those families where the wife is a local native. Nevertheless, only a few families of this type, and sometimes young couples, in order to avoid the influence of their husband’s relatives on their lives, are forced to leave their native places.

According to Russian informants, in such “correct” families, normal relationships develop between spouses. In fact, research shows: a Muslim husband often experiences serious psychological discomfort in such a marriage!

This is why some of the mixed couples I spoke with have tried to return to the extended family several times, either at the insistence of their in-laws or on their own. However, such attempts were usually unsuccessful. As a result, such a family finally settled somewhere in a big city or outside the republic, and sometimes fell apart.

The story of Zoya Ivanovna, a Ukrainian woman, a resident of the village of Kurshab, Osh region, is typical. (Kyrgyzstan). She lived in Uzgen for almost thirty years, being married to an Uzbek, a doctor by profession. She worked as a waitress. Uzbek traditions and family ties did not weigh heavily on her husband, since he was an orphan. According to Zoya Ivanovna, they lived “like Russians,” had five children, and spoke both Russian and Uzbek at home. The children were not baptized, but they were not circumcised according to Muslim custom - although the husband really wanted this, Zoya Ivanovna’s father strictly forbade it.

Gradually, the husband began to drink heavily, and scandals began. One day he attacked his wife with a knife, wounded her and committed suicide. Subsequently, Zoya Ivanovna became friends with a Russian old-timer from Kurshab; Uzbeks, relatives and acquaintances of her first husband, are offended that she “lives with a Russian.”

Usually in mixed families, spouses who grew up in different sociocultural traditions that are far from each other face enormous difficulties. This is caused by strong differences in stereotypical views on the family, its household structure, and the norms of behavior of its members.

Even if the spouses manage to find a compromise, public opinion perceives this as “the predominance of the wife,” “life the Russian way.” It is only in exceptional cases that a husband is able to overcome general condemnation and established stereotypes. But at the same time, if the wife tries to follow the rules accepted among the local population, she will have to almost completely change her cultural orientation. Not every woman is psychologically capable of this, and her parents or relatives will not always agree with this.

This is probably why Russian old-timers have a negative attitude towards mixed marriages. This is not surprising - life offers them too few positive examples.

With my head held high, I want to announce to you that my husband is a purebred Uzbek. Next to him is a real woman, not a horse harnessed to two bags.

For eleven years I lived in a legal marriage with the Russian Ivan.

I gave birth to his daughter, and only the Lord knows how hard it was for me when he left me.

Then, in tears, 2 years later, he returned, crawling on his knees, and said that that woman had bewitched him.

I let him into the house, a driven horse, always sweaty and lathered.

And again I was mistaken, I wanted my daughter to have a dad nearby, and I have someone who realized and understood his mistake.

Dear girls, people don’t change, and your fear of loneliness attracts scoundrels. Never forgive betrayal, and do not be afraid to be happy.

He called me a horse, and he could also hit me and then forget about it.

He spoke to his daughter about my shortcomings, but he himself consisted of vile vices.

Ivan died. From drinking. Fell asleep in the winter cold. So I became a widow, but not a black one.

By chance, contrary to family principles, I met a man. By nationality, he is Uzbek. Speaks broken Russian.

As usual, I snorted in disbelief, asking why my money was missing. I suspected something was wrong, and what if he didn’t need me, but an apartment. After all, he lived in a rented apartment. 6 people in a one-room shack.

I’m not going to lie to you, so I’ll say that I myself don’t fully know why I liked him. Most likely because I am brown-haired with black eyes. True, a plump, but no longer overworked horse.

They looked after me like in a love story, and I didn’t feel any falsehood or a chilly trick.

And how he kissed! And what did he do to me - sober, strong and strong-willed.

His daughter did not accept him. And not because he is Uzbek. She loved her own father to the point of unconsciousness. And I expected that everything would work out for us, perhaps on the third try.

A man appeared in the house. He vacuumed, cooked, did laundry, cleaned, went to the store. I lived like a queen.

He didn't give me expensive gifts. He called me a kolobok, so tenderly and affectionately.

The only thing is, I lied a little. He became my common-law husband. But this is because, supposedly, according to Uzbek traditions, one must wait for the arrival of his relatives. This is the custom, and I am not going to break it.

His mother, father, four brothers, three sisters, grandfather and grandmother came to us.

But I received everyone and seated them at the table.

I registered my common-law husband. Recently his mother called and said that she was seriously ill. My husband asked me about the possibility of bringing her to Moscow.

What are we talking about, my beloved and dear. I agree to everything for you.

For some reason, he speaks Uzbek with his family, despite the fact that they all know Russian quite well.

I'm in seventh heaven. And this time there will be no deception.

The real story of the woman was edited by me, Edwin Vostryakovsky.