The law enforcement system of Uzbekistan has undergone a number of significant changes in response to sharp criticism voiced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. These personnel reshuffles have affected key agencies such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard, and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
At a meeting held on January 27, the president harshly criticized the work of the law enforcement agencies, pointing out their ineffectiveness in combating cybercrime, organized crime, and fraud. He also reminded about the scandal involving the embezzlement of 186 billion sums in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which resulted in the detention of several high-ranking officials. As a result of the meeting, reprimands were issued to the head of the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs Ravshan Sultanhojaev and the acting prosecutor of the capital Anvar Urmanov.
Shortly after this, changes in the leadership of the National Guard were announced. Bahodir Tashmatov was appointed as the commander, having previously served as the deputy secretary of the Security Council. This marks his return to the law enforcement agencies, as he had already headed the National Guard from 2017 to 2020. Tashmatov replaced Rustam Juraev, who had led the agency for the past six years.
Rustam Juraev has now taken the position of first deputy minister of internal affairs and head of the Department of Public Security, replacing Bekmurod Abdullaev, who was arrested in connection with the embezzlement of budget funds. Juraev has significant experience in law enforcement, having previously headed the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
Also transferred to the Ministry of Internal Affairs was the former head of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Botir Kudratkhodjaev, who became the first deputy minister — head of the Operational Search Department. He previously served as a military prosecutor and headed the Bureau of Compulsory Enforcement. His predecessor Ayubkhon Rahmatullaev has been relieved of his duties, with no further plans specified.
Azizkhon Umarhonov has been appointed as the head of the Department of Punishment Execution in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, having previously been the hokim of the Almalar district of Tashkent. He already has experience in leadership positions within the Ministry of Internal Affairs' public order protection system. His predecessor Rustam Tursunov is under investigation. The Almalar district was mentioned by the president as an area with a high crime rate.
Additionally, there were two more appointments in the Ministry of Internal Affairs related to former employees of the presidential administration. Rustam Mirzaev became the deputy minister of internal affairs responsible for anti-corruption compliance, while Diyorbek Sattorov was appointed as deputy minister for personnel issues, replacing the dismissed Davron Nazarmukhamedov.
Changes also occurred in the Ministry of Emergency Situations, where the new head is Azizbek Ikramov, who previously headed the Internal Affairs Department of the Fergana region. He has also held positions as deputy minister of internal affairs and deputy minister of defense. Ikramov began his career in fire safety and worked in this field for 17 years when it was still part of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
