As we all know, Uzbekistan is supposed to have elections this December. So far, not much in the way of election preparation has been noted. Actually, Uzbekistan was supposed to have elections Last December. Not much in the way of election preparation was noticed then, either.
Yesterday, the International Crisis Group, a group I respect to the utmost for their coverage of the Andijan Massacre (among other things), released a new report on Uzbekistan. The report warns against President Karimov's lack of election mechanisms may well be leading to a forcible step-down in Uzbekistan. The state's increased repression and failing economy add pressures toward a possibly violent revolt and/or crackdown. Since Uzbekistan is the central state in the five-state region, such upheaval would have a destabilizing effect upon all its neighbors, and would not, probably, create a new democracy. What it would create I shudder to think.
Further Reading:
RFE/RL reports on the new ICG report
ICG Uzbekistan Page with links to the full report.