Achievements and silence of Pulat Bobojonov

Pulat Bobojonov, who had been serving as Uzbekistan’s Minister of Internal Affairs since 2017 and whose removal activists had repeatedly requested over the years, was relieved of his duties on March 3. However, no official explanation was provided for his departure.

Born on January 1, 1961, in Bogot district, Khorezm region, Bobojonov graduated from Tashkent State University’s Faculty of Law in 1982. After completing his military service, he began his career in 1982-1983 as an assistant prosecutor in Gurlan district. He subsequently held various positions, including prosecutor of Gurlan district (1991-1992), Deputy Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan (2000-2005), and head of the Department for Combating Tax and Currency Crimes under the Prosecutor General’s Office (2005-2006). His career in prosecution culminated in roles as prosecutor in Jizzakh and Bukhara regions.

In 2011, Bobojonov transitioned from prosecution to governance, serving as the First Deputy Governor of Khorezm region before becoming its Governor from 2012 to 2017. His tenure as governor ended when he was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on September 4, 2017. This appointment followed the sudden replacement of Abdusalom Azizov, who had served as minister for nine months.

When he assumed the role, Bobojonov promised to establish a people-focused internal affairs system prioritizing public service, justice, and accountability. In 2017, shortly after his appointment, he initiated disciplinary actions against 200 internal affairs officers for misconduct. Additionally, the closure of the infamous “Jasliq” prison in 2019 was a notable achievement during his tenure.

However, from 2020 onwards, Bobojonov became increasingly absent from public view. Except for brief appearances on state television to discuss presidential decrees, he rarely engaged with private media or addressed pressing issues related to internal affairs. High-profile incidents such as prisoner suicides, deaths in detention centers, police misconduct, and brutality failed to elicit public statements from him. Despite his role, Bobojonov avoided press conferences and interactions with journalists, raising questions about his accountability.

His tenure did see some advancements, including measures to promote gender equality and the introduction of body cameras for traffic police. However, crime rates surged by 113% during his time as minister, with a significant 27% increase reported in 2024. Additionally, traffic accidents remained a persistent issue, leading to numerous injuries and fatalities.

Bobojonov’s tenure has left a mixed legacy, balancing notable reforms with unresolved challenges and controversies. While he may have created some meaningful changes within the ministry, his lack of public engagement and the persistence of systemic issues have drawn criticism.

What Legacy Did Pulat Bobojonov Leave Behind?

Pulat Bobojonov, who had served as Uzbekistan's Minister of Internal Affairs since 2017, stepped down from his role on March 3. His resignation had been long demanded by activists, yet no official explanation has been provided for his departure.

During his tenure, Bobojonov made notable efforts to address certain issues in the internal affairs sector. Under his leadership, gender equality began to be prioritized. Over 54,000 women who faced violence or harassment were issued protection orders. Traffic police started using body cameras, and citizens' information was checked through specialized tablets to reduce bureaucratic barriers. Furthermore, Bobojonov played a key role in apprehending criminal groups commonly known as “Ko‘cha.”

However, his term was not without its challenges. Over five years, the national crime rate surged by 113%, including a 27% increase in 2024 alone. Road traffic accidents also remained a serious problem; in 2024, there were 9,364 incidents, leaving 8,901 people injured and 2,203 dead. While road accidents slightly decreased compared to 2023, the numbers were still significantly higher than in 2020.

On social media, citizens frequently addressed Bobojonov with complaints and issues, seeking resolution and support. Despite this, public dissatisfaction with his ministry grew, as challenges continued to escalate. Shohruh Giyasov, the Ministry’s press secretary, had stated that Bobojonov's packed schedule left little time for press engagements, adding that the minister followed social media regularly. However, this did not ease public criticism, especially as Bobojonov consistently avoided press conferences and interactions with journalists.

In 2024, the announcement of a controversial law restricting the filming of law enforcement officers further intensified objections to Bobojonov. Additionally, several high-profile incidents exposed systemic flaws. For instance, in February 2024, a farmer named Tohirjon Hayitov, who was under investigation in Surxondaryo, was handed over to his family members deceased, only two days after being detained. February alone saw two deaths in correctional facilities, while cases of suicides and mistreatment in prisons had been reported in previous years.

Despite being known as one of the least publicly accessible ministers, Bobojonov’s career achievements led to several honors. He served as Vice-President of the Uzbekistan Football Federation from 2017 to 2018 and was appointed Chairman of the Uzbekistan Volleyball Federation in February 2023. He was awarded the “Do‘stlik” (Friendship) Order and, in August 2024, the 1st Degree “Shon-Sharaf” (Fame) Order.

As of now, Pulat Bobojonov has been reassigned as the Deputy Advisor to the President on Personnel Policy. Meanwhile, General Major Aziz Toshpulatov, formerly head of the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs, has been appointed the new Minister of Internal Affairs.

Who is the New Minister Aziz Toshpulatov?

Aziz Anvarovich Toshpulatov, a General Major, has been appointed as Uzbekistan's new Minister of Internal Affairs. His career in law enforcement spans several key leadership roles.

From 2015 to 2017, Toshpulatov served as the head of the Namangan Regional Department of Internal Affairs. He then led the Samarkand Regional Department of Internal Affairs from November 2017 to June 2019. Following this, he was appointed as the First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, a position he held from June 2019 to March 2020.

Most recently, from March 16, 2020, until his current appointment in March 2025, Toshpulatov served as the head of the Tashkent City Department of Internal Affairs.

Stay tuned for further updates and insights on this development. Feel free to share your thoughts on former Minister Pulat Bobojonov in the comments. Let me know if you'd like me to refine this further!