Saida Mirziyoyeva. Photo: kun.uz
Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration, has been granted the authority to hire both domestic and international experts for work on specific development projects, as well as to determine their salaries. This provision is among several powers assigned to staff of the Presidential Administration in a decree issued by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, published on the government portal Lex.uz on July 16 and effective immediately.
Under the new rules, Mirziyoyeva may hire scientists, researchers, and academic candidates through direct contracts. Their employment can be financed via the Fund for Supporting the Activities of the Presidential Administration. The decree also allows experts to be paid in both national and foreign currencies.
Additional powers granted to the head of the administration include:
✅ approving the staffing structure of the Presidential Administration;
✅ appointing and dismissing deputy advisers to the president and deputies of structural unit heads within the administration;
✅ appointing and dismissing the head of the Compliance Service and the chief of the Chancellery, including personnel previously confirmed in these posts by the president.
At the same time, the president retains exclusive authority to appoint the head of the administration, along with their deputies, assistants, advisers, representatives, and heads of structural units.
The decree also mandates that within two weeks, Saida Mirziyoyeva must conduct a performance assessment of the Presidential Administration’s management staff and select the most qualified candidates with strong potential and capabilities for key roles.
Presidential advisers and heads of structural divisions are required to compile and submit lists of development projects in their respective areas within ten days. Meanwhile, the Department of Communications has been given one month to develop the State Communication Strategy.
In late June, Uzbekistan's Presidential Administration underwent further restructuring, resulting in personnel reshuffles. The most significant change was the reinstatement of the position of head of the administration, which had been abolished in August 2023. President Mirziyoyev appointed his eldest daughter, Saida, to the role. She previously served as his assistant.
