Former Minister of Internal Affairs of Karakalpakstan passes away

Zhanabay Palimovich Shilmanov, who served as Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan from 1991 to 2002, has died at the age of 86. The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported this.

“Zhanabay Palimovich Shilmanov, a retired major general who devoted many years to effective service within the Ministry of Internal Affairs system of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, made a significant contribution to ensuring peace and public order in the country, earned the respect of the people, and was awarded the honorary title ‘Honored Lawyer of the Republic of Karakalpakstan’ and the second-degree ‘Veteran of Labor’ badge, passed away this year at the age of 86. We express our deep condolences to his family members, relatives, and all colleagues and students,” the statement said.

For reference, Major General Zhanabay Shilmanov was born on November 16, 1940, in the Kegeyli district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. In 1957, he graduated from a secondary school in the district center and went on to study at the Faculty of English Philology of the Tashkent State Pedagogical Institute from 1957 to 1962, completing his studies with honors.

He began his professional career in 1962 as an instructor in the Pacific Fleet of the Navy, where he served until 1965. During this period, he was awarded his first military rank of lieutenant and received the medal “For Distinguished Service.” He later worked as a teacher at a secondary school in the Kegeyli district and served as chairman of the district youth council.

In 1966, he joined the State Security Committee and completed specialized training at a special school in Minsk, undergoing advanced combat and professional preparation. In 1980–1981, he carried out combat service missions in Afghanistan as part of the special unit “Cascade-2.”

He subsequently held a number of senior positions, including head of a department at the State Security Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, deputy head of the State Security Committee of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and from 1983 to 1987, head of the Administrative Department of the Karakalpakstan Republican Party Committee.

From 1987, he served as Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and from 1991 to 2002 as Minister of Internal Affairs. During this period, he made a substantial contribution to the development of the system and the maintenance of public security.

In recognition of his dedicated service to the nation, Zhanabay Shilmanov was awarded the high military rank of Major General of Internal Affairs, the second-degree Order of Glory, and the honorary title “Honored Lawyer of the Republic of Karakalpakstan.”

Zhanabay Palimovich and his wife, Klara, raised four children, all of whom hold higher education degrees. Two of them followed in their father’s professional footsteps.

After retiring in 2002, Major General Shilmanov continued his public service for many years, serving as chairman of a committee of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, as well as chairman of the Constitutional Oversight Committee.