The president of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, has died aged 78 after suffering a stroke.
The announcement was made by Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim in a television interview and was later confirmed by diplomatic sources, according to Reuters.
Mr Karimov had been in power since 1989 and his death leaves no obvious successor. He has no political opposition and has not appeared in public since August 17th.
It had been confirmed by his daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva last week that Karimov had suffered a brain haemorrhage, but nothing further had reported until today.
The Turkish prime minister is the first head of state to make a statement, broadcasting his message live from a cabinet meeting.
“Uzbek President Islam Karimov has passed away. May God’s mercy be upon him, as the Turkish Republic we are sharing the pain and sorrow of Uzbek people.”