<P> With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 , five Central Asian countries gained independence -- Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Turkmenistan , Kyrgyzstan , and Tajikistan . In all of the new states , former Communist Party officials retained power as local strongmen . </P>
<P> With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 , five Central Asian countries gained independence -- Kazakhstan , Uzbekistan , Turkmenistan , Kyrgyzstan , and Tajikistan . In all of the new states , former Communist Party officials retained power as local strongmen . </P>
when did the countries in central asia and the caucasus become independent
when did the countries in central asia and the caucasus become independent
1991
1991