First ambassador of Uzbekistan to Slovenia was appointed

On October 24, Oybek Shakhavdinov, appointed as Uzbekistan’s first ambassador to Slovenia, presented his credentials to Natasha Prah, head of the diplomatic protocol department at Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. This development was shared by the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Hungary, where Shakhavdinov is also stationed.

During the meeting, Shakhavdinov and Prah discussed potential avenues for cooperation between Uzbekistan and Slovenia.

The 46-year-old diplomat has a distinguished academic background, having studied at Birmingham University in the UK, obtained a master's degree from Tashkent State University of Law, and attended the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. Shakhavdinov began his career at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in Tashkent, advancing through the ranks of Uzbekistan’s diplomatic service, including his role as head of the Department of Cooperation with European Countries at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also has experience working at Uzbekistan’s embassy in Brussels.

Fluent in English, Russian, and French, Shakhavdinov is not only Uzbekistan’s first ambassador to Slovenia but also serves as the first ambassador to Hungary, based in Budapest, following his appointment in March of this year. Additionally, on October 23, Shakhavdinov presented his credentials to Mirta Jelenska Zupan, head of protocol at Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, establishing him as the first ambassador of Uzbekistan to Croatia as well.