The war in eastern Ukraine has spurred calls for independence for Karakalpakstan, a depressed semi-autonomous region of Uzbekistan. But some say the campaign risks a backlash that could endanger the whole community The Republic of Karakalpakstan is one of the most depressed areas of the former Soviet Union. Much of the vast semi-autonomous region of northern Uzbekistan is a toxic salt desert that was left behind as the Aral Sea dried up. Desert winds spread harmful trace elements through the air, leading to high incidence of respiratory problems. Much of the vast semi-autonomous region is a toxic salt desert that …read more
Source: The Guardian
