Internal Affairs Minister targets mismanagement in Bukhara law enforcement

In Bukhara, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Aziz Toshpulatov, ordered a significant restructuring of the local law enforcement system, resulting in the dismissal of several senior officials, including the deputy head of the Regional Internal Affairs Department (DIA) and the head of the Legal Statistics and Rapid Data Monitoring Center. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Following a thorough inspection in the Bukhara region, General-Major Aziz Toshpulatov held a reporting meeting with key leaders and personnel of regional and city-district police departments.

During the meeting, the findings of the inspection team were critically discussed, covering various areas such as:

• Crime prevention across districts;
• Responding to and addressing public complaints;
• Ensuring public order and road safety;
• Compliance with service discipline and job performance standards.

As a result of these evaluations, disciplinary measures were taken against several officials who demonstrated serious shortcomings in their duties.

Under Minister Toshpulatov’s order, the following individuals were dismissed:

• Deputy head of the Bukhara Regional Internal Affairs Department and Head of the Investigation Department;
• Head of the Legal Statistics and Rapid Data Monitoring Center;
• Deputy Chief of Bukhara City Security Service Head;
• Two deputy heads of Gijduvan District Internal Affairs Department (Operational Search Service Head and Investigation Department Head);
• First Deputy Head of Kogon District Internal Affairs Department (Operational Search Service Head).

In addition, disciplinary penalties were imposed on:

• Deputy Head of the Regional Public Security Service (Head of Offense Prevention Department);
• Two deputy heads of the Investigation Department;
• Secretary Department Head of the Regional DIA;
• Deputy Heads of Gijduvan and Kogon District Police Departments.
• Planned Improvements: The meeting also addressed plans to:
• Rectify identified deficiencies within specific timeframes;
• Enhance the material and technical capabilities of the regional and district police divisions;
• Address other ongoing challenges faced by the departments.

In March 2025, Minister Toshpulatov dismissed senior officials in Kashkadarya, including the heads of Kukdala and Kitob district police departments, due to serious lapses in their service performance.

Ministerial Changes in 2025: It was reported on March 3, 2025, that Pulat Bobojonov, who had served as the Minister of Internal Affairs since 2017, was relieved of his duties. Aziz Toshpulatov, previously the Chief of Tashkent City’s Internal Affairs Department, was appointed as the new Minister. Polkovnik Ravshan Sultonkhojaev succeeded him in Tashkent City Regional DIA, and Polkovnik Abdumajid Shermuhammedov was appointed as Head of the Khorezm Regional DIA. Colonel Ayubkhon Toshkhojaevich Rahmatullaev, formerly Head of the Andijan Regional IIB, became the First Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.