It seems that Islam Karimov, current president of Uzbekistan, who has been leading the country for almost twenty years, is again reshuffling high ranking officials in the country. Recently, one of the key figures of Uzbek politics Anvar Nabiev, a Deputy Prosecutor General, was taken into custody for some unknown reasons. Today, there are rumors in the political arena that according to the decision of the president the prime-minister Shavkat Mirzieyev is replaced by Rustam Azimov, a Deputy prime minister. Shavkat Mirzieyev is now in the position of hokim (governor) of Fergana region, which was previously occupied by Odiljon Allayarov.

Shavkat Mirzieyev is a very powerful and influential personality in Uzbek politics. Before entering the position of prime-minister, he used to be a hokim of Samarkand and Jizzakh regions. He is from the president Islam Karimov’s “Samarkand clan” and there are unchecked rumors that Mirzieyev is a far relative of Islam Karimov. Therefore, it is hard to believe that Karimov is ousting Mirzieyev from the second highest position in the government.

One of the first to write about reshuffling of Mirziyoev was Sergei Yezhkov, editor of Uzmetronom.com. Relying on confidential sources, he wrote that Mirziyoev submitted a statement about his resignation to the president. However, in the interview of Ferghana.ru with Sergei Yezhkov, the latter told that it turned out to be just a rumor.

I remember at least six episodes over the last month. We checked the information every time but failed to get a confirmation.

On February 20, we did buy it because the information had come practically simultaneously from several different structures. For some reason there is no need to dwell on here, we failed to contact the premier’s press service for confirmation. (That’s something we had always done in the past.) Well, it happens.

All of governmental web sites and internet portals are keeping silence about Mirzieyev being reshuffled. However, some other sources, like the Jamestown Foundation, have already informed that Shavkat Mirzieyev is not a prime-minister anymore, but a hokim (governor) of Fergana region, one of the problematic places for Karimov.

…according to some analysts, Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s recent local government reshuffles are connected to local leaders’ inability to counter rising popular discontent over the lack of heat for their houses. Among the most significant changes were the February 21 replacement of Ferghana Hokim Adiljon Allayarov by Prime Minister Shavkat Mirzieyev. The former prime minister will now be responsible for the region where mass anti-governmental protests took place in May 2005. Karimov appointed 49-year old Rustam Azimov as his new prime minister.

Why Karimov often reshuffles his people? Some say that the reason is in Karimov’s fear that one of these people can become his potential competitors, and therefore, he is not giving them a chance to gain authority and support. However, it may also be a result of Karimov’s “artificial breeding” of best cadres, but again, it is hard to believe that for 20 years he still cannot find right persons…