Putin pledges support to next likely Uzbek leader
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday pledged to support Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev, on his visit to pay respects to the country's authoritarian leader Islam Karimov, who died on Friday. Mirziyoyev is likely the next leader of Uzbekistan after Karimov died without designating an heir. "You can fully count on us as your most reliable friends," Putin said.