Abdusalam Azizov. Photo Courtesy of newshub.uz
Abdusalam (also spelled Abdusalom) Azizov, dismissed in late November as the chairman of Uzbekistan’s State Security Service (SGB), has been appointed deputy advisor to the president on youth affairs. He will serve under the presidential advisor on socio-political, religious-educational, and youth matters. The reshuffle, along with other personnel changes, was announced by Presidential Press Secretary Sherzod Asadov.
According to a presidential decree, Ruslanbek Davletov has been named the new advisor to the president on socio-political, religious-educational, and youth affairs. Previously, Davletov held a similar position focusing on socio-political development.
In addition to Azizov, two other deputies have been appointed under Davletov: Sukhrob Yusupov and Adham Turdiev. Yusupov was transferred from his role as deputy advisor on socio-political development, while Turdiev was relieved of his post as head of a sector in the Presidential Administration.
Meanwhile, Muzaffar Kamilov, the presidential advisor on interfaith and interethnic relations, and his deputy, Olim Saliev, were dismissed. Both departures were described as “transfers to other work,” though no further details were provided.
ℹ️ On November 24, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a major reshuffle of Uzbekistan’s security leadership. Azizov was removed as head of the SGB, replaced by Bahodir Kurbanov, who had been relieved of his duties as minister of defense.
At the time, it was stated that Azizov was “transferred to the jurisdiction of the Secretariat of the Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.” The presidential press service later clarified that this phrasing referred to Azizov being placed in the personnel reserve of the Security Council Secretariat. Azizov had served as head of the SGB since February 2019, after holding the position of defense minister from September 2017.
ℹ️ Ruslanbek Davletov was born on June 1, 1980, in Shavat District, Khorezm Region. He is trained as a lawyer and economist. In 2001, he graduated from the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom. He completed a master’s degree at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy in 2003, graduated from Tashkent State University of Economics in 2007, and completed studies at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of Uzbekistan in 2010. In August 2017, he became Minister of Justice. He was relieved of that role in November 2022 to take up the position of presidential advisor on socio-political development.
