People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan in the context of 2000 Uzbek presidential election

Islam Abduganiyevich Karimov (30 January 1938 – 2 September 2016) was an Uzbekistani politician who served as the first president of Uzbekistan, from the country's independence in 1991 until his death in 2016. He was the last First Secretary of the Communist Party of Uzbekistan from 1989 to 1991, when the party was reconstituted as the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (O‘zXDP); he led the O‘zXDP until 1996. He was the President of the Uzbek SSR from 24 March 1990 until he declared the independence of Uzbekistan on 1 September 1991.

He declared Uzbekistan as an independent nation on 31 August 1991. He subsequently won the presidential election on 30 December 1991, with 86% of the vote. Foreign observers and the opposition cited voting irregularities, alleging state-run propaganda and a falsified vote count. Karimov's first presidential term was extended to 2000 by way of a referendum, and he was re-elected in 2000, 2007 and 2015, each time receiving over 90% of the vote. He died from a stroke on 2 September 2016, after being president of the country for 25 years.

Direct presidential elections were held for the first time in Uzbekistan on 29 December 1991. Their result was a victory for Islam Karimov of the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, who won with 87% of the vote. Voter turnout was reported to be 94%. The elections were held alongside an independence referendum.

The elections were the only presidential elections in Uzbekistan to date to feature a genuine opposition candidate. Every election since has been considered to feature only token opposition candidates. Karimov later ruled until his death in 2016.