Series of secret appointments: Odiljon Abdukakhorov returns as director of “Uzbekconcert”

Odiljon Abdukakhorov has once again been appointed as the director of the "Uzbekconcert" state institution. Neither the institution's press service nor officials from the Ministry of Culture have provided details regarding this appointment.

Abdukakhorov's reappointment as the director of "Uzbekconcert" became known on March 11, following a meeting chaired by Minister of Culture Ozodbek Nazarbekov to discuss the implementation of performance discipline in organizations under the ministry.

According to the press release about the meeting, Abdukakhorov, along with Anvar Tojiboev, head of the Uzbek State Philharmonic; Umidjon Norboev, head of the Republican Center for Bakhshi Art; and Fatih Jalolov, director of the International Festivals Directorate under the Ministry of Culture, were tasked with elevating the work being carried out in their respective organizations to a new level.

Abdukakhorov had been serving as the director of the International Festivals Directorate under the Ministry of Culture since 2020. Following his appointment as director of "Uzbekconcert", Fatih Jalolov succeeded him as the head of the International Festivals Directorate, according to the Ministry of Culture.

However, the "Uzbekconcert" State Institution's website still lists Sanjar Erdanov as the director, and it remains unclear when Abdukakhorov was appointed or why the previous director was dismissed.

It is also worth noting that similar secret appointments were made within the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Justice last week. Initially, the dismissal of Interior Minister Pulat Bobozhov was not announced, and the reasons for his departure were not disclosed. Aziz Toshpulatov, previously head of the Tashkent city police department, was appointed in his place. Furthermore, Shavkat Rakhmonov, the First Deputy Minister and Head of the Rapid Investigation Department, mysteriously disappeared and was replaced by Colonel Ayubhon Toshkhodzhaevich Rakhmatullayev, former head of the Andijan regional police department, on March 11.

In addition, it was revealed last week that Khudoyor Meliev, who had been serving as Deputy Minister of Justice since 2019, resigned, although no official announcement has been made regarding this, and the Ministry of Justice has yet to comment on Meliev's departure.

For context, Odiljon Abduganievich Abdukakhorov, 41, graduated from the Namangan Engineering and Economics Institute and the Uzbek State Institute of Arts and Culture. He has held various positions, including working with the Namangan regional branch of the "Kamolot" People's Party, the Executive Committee of the UzLiDeP Political Council, and the "Uzbeknavo" pop group.

From 2017 to 2020, he served as the director of "Uzbekconcert". He was appointed Deputy Director of the International Festivals Directorate in 2020, later serving as its acting director until 2023, when he became the director of the Directorate.