Crossword Genius

Party hosting Uzbekistan's first couple (3)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

duo

'couple' is the definition.
('duo' can be a synonym of 'couple')

'party hosting uzbekistan's first' is the wordplay.
'party' becomes 'do' (do is a kind of party).
'hosting' is an insertion indicator.
'first' indicates taking the first letters.
The first letter of 'uzbekistans' is 'u'.
'do' placed around 'u' is 'DUO'.

(Other definitions for duo that I've seen before include "They might play" , "Two players" , "Couple, pair" , "Musical pair" , "Performing pair" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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