Officially: President signed the decree on the dismissal of Azizov

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has officially signed a decree dismissing Abdusalom Abdumavlonovich Azizov from his role as the head of the State Security Service (SSS) and transferring him to the Secretariat of the Security Council under the President. This was confirmed by Sherzod Asadov, the President’s press secretary.

Following this decision, Bahodir Nizomovich Kurbanov has been appointed as the new chairman of the State Security Service, with an accompanying promotion to the rank of colonel-general.

Abdusalom Azizov has been serving as the chairman of the SSS since 2019. The details regarding his new responsibilities within the Security Council remain unclear.

Background on Abdusalom Azizov: Born on January 20, 1960, in Tashkent, Azizov graduated from the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan. He has held several high-profile positions throughout his career, including Chairman of the Board of the National Holding Company "Uzbekneftegaz" (2003–2006), General Director of JSC "Uzbekneftmahsulot" (2006–2008), Head of the Main Department of Internal Affairs of Tashkent (2005), Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan (November–December 2008), First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and Vice-President of the Football Federation of Uzbekistan (2008–2009), Head of the Department of Internal Affairs of Jizzakh Region (2009–2017), Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan (January–September 2017), Minister of Defense of Uzbekistan (2017–2019), Azizov was promoted to major general in 2017 and lieutenant general in 2019.

In related developments, Shuhrat Gayratjonovich Kholmukhammedov, previously the first deputy minister of defense and chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, has been appointed as the new Minister of Defense.