Hélène HofmanFebruary 13, 2012 21:14

Uzbeks reject government ban on Valentine's Day

Authorities in Uzbekistan cancel Valentine's Day events, urging citizens to celebrate the birthday of the Moghul emperor Babur instead

Enlarge

Authorities in Uzbekistan want people to forget Valentine's Day and celebrate the birthday of the Moghul Emperor Babur instead (Ralph Orlowski/AFP/Getty Images)

Authorities in the central Asian state of Uzbekistan have canceled several Valentine's Day events as part of attempts to encourage the population to commemorate the birthday of the first Moghul emperor Babur instead, the BBC reports.

Uzbekistan blackmails the West into silence

Jan Egeland and Steve SwerdlowJanuary 11, 2012 08:11

Obama, Merkel and Putin whitewash Uzbekistan’s human rights atrocities.

Why the protest bug hasn't spread to the former Soviet Union

David L. SternApril 8, 2011 06:16

KIEV — Democracy movements across the former Soviet Union haven’t been allowed to emerge, much less gather momentum.