Chairman of the Uzbek National Security Service Dismissed

On January 31, 2018, the Chairman of the Uzbek National Security Service (SNB), Rustam Inoyatov, was dismissed.

This was announced at the selector meeting held by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, attended by the SNB and employees of the Prosecutor’s Office. The General Prosecutor of Uzbekistan, Ihtiyer Abdullayev, has been appointed to Inoyatov’s position. Abdullayev will, in turn, be replaced by the presidential adviser, Otabek Murodov.

74-year old Inoyatov had served as the Chairman of the SNB for 23 years. He was one of the few officers to keep his position after the death of former Uzbek president, Islam Karimov.

Last December, president Mirziyoyev criticized the Uzbek law enforcement authorities including the SNB and recommended new legislation to regulate the SNB’s duties and functions.

Eltuz recently published a series of articles about Rustam Inoyatov’s property business, which was reportedly built through money laundering.