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Uzbekistan can deal with local terrorists on its own and, in the event of a serious external threat, may, like an ally, seek the assistance of the Russian Federation. Bakhtiyor Ergashev, director of the Mano Research Initiatives Center in Uzbekistan, told RIA Novosti. As Lukashenko has emphasized, there may be “sleeping” extremist cells in Uzbekistan. However, Expert Ergashev recalled that in 2005 Uzbekistan signed an agreement on allied relations with Russia. Therefore, the country will not have to ask for help from the CSTO, Tashkent can ask for help directly from Russia.
In addition, the expert noted that in Uzbekistan there are no serious differences within the elite, which owns Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan also does not want to participate in any military-political blocs, and the OKB is just one such organization.