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Craig Murray

Murder in Samarkand Kindle Edition

by Craig Murray (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.5 178 ratings

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Craig Murray's tale of his Ambassadorship to Tashkent became an instant bestseller and is now a classic in several genres.
Murray lifts the lid on the British Foreign Office and gives a detailed and fascinating account of the life and work of an Ambassador. But he also thoroughly exposes the lies behind the Blair administration's "War on Terror" and the ruthlessness of its operations. This is vital primary source material for the "extraordinary rendition" policy.
But it is still more than that. This is a most detailed travel story and insight into Central Asian society. It is a narration of quite horrifying individual events. And it is the warts and all story of one man's crisis as everything he has believed in crumbles about him. Murray makes no attempt to hide his own imperfections, which adds to the emotional impact of this quite extraordinary book.

Print length

442 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

June 26, 2017
File size

833 KB
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Lydia Kiesling
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Stephen Lioy
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in Central Asia Travel
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Chris Aslan
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Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

CHAPTER 1

Awakening

Chris looked pretty amazed. 'OK, let's go,' didn't seem to be the standard reaction from a British ambassador to the news that a dissident trial was about to start. The Land-Rover drew up to the embassy door and out I went, still feeling pretty uncomfortable at people calling me 'Sir', opening doors and stopping their normal chatter as I passed. We turned up outside the court, where a small wicket entrance led thorugh an unprepossessing muddy wall into a dirty courtyard containg several squat white buildings. Like much Soviet construction, it looked unfinished and barely functional. To enter the courtyard, we had to give passport details to two policemen sitting at a table outside the gate. They took an age to write everything down with a chewed-up pencil in an old ledger. I was to find that the concealment of terrible viciousness behind a homely exterior was a recurring theme in Uzbekistan. About a hundred people were hanging about the courtyard waiting for different trials to begin. I was introduced to a variety of scruffy-looking individuals who represented a range of human rights organisations. Puzzlingly, the seven or eight I met seemed to belong to the same number of groups, and most of them would not talk to one another. One short but distinguished-looking man with a shock of white hair and big black specs was so full of self-importance that he wouldn't talk to anyone at all. Chris, busting around doing the introductions, pointed to him and said, 'Mikhail Ardzinov - he says that it is for you to call on him.' I was puzzled, as the question of who called on who involved taking about eight paces across the courtyard. Chris explained that Ardzinov was feeling very important, as his group was the only one that was registered and thus legal. The others were all illegal. Peculiarly, Ardzinov's registered group was called the 'Independent Human Rights Organisation of Uzbekistan'. None of this meant much to me at the time, and I certainly hadn't been an ambassador long enough to feel my pride compromised by taking eight paces, so I went over and shook the man's hand. I received a long, cool stare for my effort. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

About the Author

Craig Murray was born in 1958. He joined the Diplomatic Service in 1984 and served in Nigeria, Poland and Ghana, before being appointed Ambassador to Uzbekistan in 2002. He retired from the Civil Service in 2005. He now lives in London, where he works as a writer and broadcaster. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B073DMBZXQ
Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 26, 2017
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 833 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 442 pages

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4.5 178 ratings

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4.5 out of 5

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Donna M. Stewart

Are we rating the book for entertainment value, or the author for diplomatic skill?

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2020

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Read this book as preparation for my Central Asia trip. It is both an inside look into a repressive dictatorship, the compromised ethics of war hawks, and the authors own ineptitude and debauchery. Prepare to be annoyed by just about everyone in the book. That said, it was quite readable, so four stars.

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Eric Elliott

His details of what it is like for the people of Uzbekistan to live under Karimov's ...

Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2018

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Many things fascinated me about this book. Reading about the details of what it is to be an ambassador was very interesting. Mr. Murray's adventures in Uzbekistan were so compelling and so well-written I had trouble putting the book down. His details of what it is like for the people of Uzbekistan to live under Karimov's dictatorship was profoundly insightful. The most satisfying part of the book is reading how a righteous man stood up against torture, against the Iraq war, for civil rights, and all the decencies of civilization that are currently being disintegrated. This was eminently satisfying. It's unusual for a biography to also be such a good story, but this one is.

2 people found this helpful

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andrea colombo

True story

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2021

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Amazing book

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Marketta Kopinski, Kindle Customer

Trials and tribulations of British diplomat in Uzbekistan

Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2019

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This is not a murder story. Neither is it really a boon on Uzbekistan, except for its dismal human rights record. It is a story about the trials and tribulations of British ambassador in Uzbekistan with his own Foreign Office in the early 2000s. As disgusting as the story of the UK Foreign Office trying to close its eyes from the crimes to please its US ally is, it really is aimed at he British reader.

One person found this helpful

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Bernard Cukierman

the all important Message

Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2015

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The Documentary Expose style of the book was well used to convey the all important message being never trust the spin delivered by Governments to justify their policies because they act immorally without integrity hypocritically and expediently. The book is not written so well and there are many repetitions describing similar experiences but the message is the important thing and comes across strongly.

Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2020

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If you want to know how foreign policy works in the real world with real people and real consequences this book will blow your mind. Expertly written! Like Graham Green only real. Amazing!

One person found this helpful

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Mike Carmel

Riveting insight

Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2018

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An extremely interesting insight into the life of an extraordinary stubborn diplomat who wouldn't give up on his principles. This may seem commendable but Craig is in effect a victim of his own intransigence and perhaps stupidity and I am sure he would be the first to admit to that. Great read.

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Paul Christensen

... the other reviews except to say that I have great respect for Mr Murray's courage in speaking out and ...

Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2018

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I don't have anything to add to the other reviews except to say that I have great respect for Mr Murray's courage in speaking out and for the stands that he has taken since on various issues. The world needs more people like him.

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lou and ju

Not your average Ambassador....not your average country

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2014

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A very good read and scary insight to how it is in Uzbekistan, who at that time was an ally of the UK and US on the War on Terror (the so called 'goodies' fighting for the great good against evil). The book gives one person's perceptions of how Uzbekistan was then (2003) at the start of the Iraq war with regards an appalling human rights record and 'in-'justice system in what remains to this day a dictatorship. That's not just the author's view, that's pretty much fact as claimed by many international bodies.

But Uzbekistan was considered a must-have ally in terms of strategic location and resources so their actions were considered "no real problem" by the US and by proxy the UK Government whilst they suited. The British sent their ambassador to represent their view and he didn't like or agree with it much as he runs around the capital and country hearing of all sorts of horrific abuses.

The UK Foreign Office then went about their merry way to have him replaced on the back of a "stitch up" job. I am amazed he lasted as long as he did out there, or was offered the post in the first place but maybe that says more about the slow moving, slow to react civil service? In their defence I am not sure he helped himself by being a bit unconventional socially, and management style for the mandarins at Whitehall, and that's ignoring his personal stance in not following the party line.

But I like him from reading this, and I really liked the book. I can understand why some might find his humour un-PC, his eye for the ladies and liking a drink or two but he's at least self-deprecating honest about his hypocrisy (when he finds out his mistress is playing him, he states how annoyed this made him....acknowledging at the same time that he has been playing his wife). And yeah, I can't help but warm to the bloke for all his shortfalls. None of us perfect moral models.

One of his assistants at the Embassy, shortly after the author's arrival sees a detailed email the author has sent back to his bosses in London raising all his concerns and jovially says "That's the longest resignation letter I've ever seen" in a joking but not way. My exact thoughts when I read the email in the book; you know this relationship between Ambassador and his bosses at the FCO is only going to end one way eventually. The author after 20 years service must have known for this, but he is apparently not deterred from continuing to highlight the human rights record of his hosts.

Those saying he should not have complained, should have done the job he was there to do (represent the UK Government) and toed the party policy line should remember that many terrible acts and regimes in history have been able to unleash their deeds because many normally good people "just follow orders" and toe that party line.

This author couldn't, or wouldn't do so. I admire that.

As somebody who has faced the full force of the UK Civil Service as a former employee on (imvh biased opinion :) ) a stitch up, though not on his level, many of the emails, disciplinary actions, investigations of what he goes through echoes my own past experiences and took me back there.

He has my sympathy on the process, I understand a little how might have felt. Not being able to discuss the case with anyone colleague-wise to build own defence, being told not to use "emotive" language, how they must be seen to follow cold protocol whilst knifing you and ultimately no matter the right or wrongs of both side's argument your career with them being over rings very very true. They are a monster to take on. Not unlike wider UK and US policy to whatever suits at the time.

If you want a small insight in to a little known, but important to the West's agenda, brutal dictatorship from a former unconventional UK Ambassador there, written in a lads own seemingly honest way then you might just like this one.

17 people found this helpful

Iosaiph

Stark, unsettling but not surprising

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 23, 2014

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I vaguely remember the media storm around Mr Murray's alleged antics when they were first reported in the media and like a dull sheep assumed that as they were reported in the Press and supported by the FCO that they were right, then I turned to the sport page and thought no more about a man and a country I knew nothing of and cared less. How stupid of me. How negligent. How callously inhuman. My own experience of an organisation protecting itself proves how narrow and duplicitous we are when confronted by someone who won't toe the line.

Now, to the book itself, don't expect to have an abiding affection for Mr Murray as you read it, I didn't but he puts himself out there and he acknowledges his faults and less savoury character-traits but he writes well and passionately about his time in Uzbekistan. One or two episodes of his personal interactions with SNB agents have a touch of the 'Flemings' about them but the hard evidence of the support, good work and esteem he was held in by those he worked with as their Ambassador is very clear as is the hypocrisy of the UK Govt. especially Jack Straw. All-in-all a thoroughly riveting account of the work and life of an Ambassador doing what Ambassador's should do. Well done Mr Murray.

14 people found this helpful

Isidro Maya Jariego

Un embajador británico en Uzbekistán

Reviewed in Spain on May 27, 2018

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Es una crónica de la misión diplomática del embajador británico en Uzbekistán. El formato recuerda a las memorias de Chris Patten, el último gobernador británico de Hong Kong, por su combinación del relato personal con el análisis geoestratégico. Craig Murray fue embajador en Taskent entre 2002-2004, en un período crítico de la colaboración de Uzbekistán en la “Guerra contra el terrorismo” lanzada por Estados Unidos. El libro cumple a ratos las funciones de un “estudio de área”, en el que describe el contexto socio-político de Asia Central y el posicionamiento económico de Uzbekistán en el ámbito de los hidrocarburos, el algodón y la agricultura. Explica de manera convincente cómo los movimientos de independencia nacional en las repúblicas soviéticas pretendían mantener el sistema soviético, no destruirlo. El libro es fundamentalmente una descripción de las prácticas autoritarias del gobierno de Karimov y el uso de la tortura con fines políticos. Está escrito como un ajuste de cuentas personal. En la última parte es casi un alegato para defender su comportamiento y sus decisiones como embajador. Es interesante de leer.

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Florence

Let's start with what I didn't like, and that was the insight into the lecherous ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2015

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Let's start with what I didn't like, and that was the insight into the lecherous tendencies of the author. The book would not have lost anything if we didn't hear about the various nubile young women Mr Murray encountered.
Now for the positives: this was a fascinating account of the author's time as UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan, and the horrors of this regime.
I really has no idea what the duties of an Ambassador might be and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the role. I was shocked to read of the repression meted out to ordinary Uzbeks and the extent to which the authorities go to maintain their control.
It also showed clearly that the role of the UK in its blind support of US policy in Iraq post 9/1, led Blair's government to disregard human rights in accepting evidence gained through torture.
This aspect of the book made for fascinating reading, and, unexpectedly, I found it to be a real page turner!

7 people found this helpful

Ellen Mentary

The real story from the horse`s mouth

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 9, 2018

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Craig Murray`s account of his Ambassadorship in Uzbekistan during the outbreak of the infamous Iraq war is fascinating. So fascinating that I went to his website at hisname dot org dot uk and downloaded for free his second book, The Catholic Orangemen of Togo, which is not for sale because it is so fascinating that it has been banned. The second book gives an account of his time as Deputy High Commissioner in Africa, from which vantage point he witnessed how corruption works in some parts of this little understood continent, and details the murky involvement of global agencies. I congratulate Amazon for embracing the first book and hope that in the near future their bravery will extend to making the second book available. Both are, unlike some kindle books I have come across, well written.

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