TASHKENT (TCA) — The former head of Uzbekistan’s powerful security service is under criminal investigation, according to people familiar with the matter, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reports.
The reported case against Ikhtiyor Abdullaev follows the February 11 announcement by Uzbekistan’s president that Abdullaev had resigned as head of the State Security Service for health reasons.
Abdullaev’s abrupt departure from office, and the reported probe against him, was the latest in an ongoing purge of top Uzbek officials.
A statement by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s office said Abdullaev, 52, had stepped down after undergoing two spinal surgeries.
Three people close to the government told RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service that a criminal investigation was opened into Abdullaev on February 8 on bribery and abuse of office charges. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
There was no official confirmation about the investigation from law enforcement agencies. The Prosecutor-General’s office told RFE/RL “we have no information about this matter.”
Since assuming the presidency following Karimov’s death in 2016, Mirziyoyev has been gradually moving to sack or remove large numbers of government officials.
Abdullaev was appointed as head of State Security Service in January 2018, after Mirziyoyev sacked Rustam Inoyatov, the long-serving security chief who, under late President Islam Karimov, had turned the service into a powerful and feared agency.
Prior to becoming head of the State Security Service, Abdullaev served as Uzbekistan’s prosecutor-general.
In 2017, Mirziyoyev excoriated the prosecutor-general’s office, calling officials there “the biggest thieves.” Then-Prosecutor-General Rashidjon Qodirov was sacked in February 2018 and later arrested.
Last month, court officials told RFE/RL that Qodiriov’s corruption had begun in a Tashkent court.
Hundreds of employees of the Finance Minister have also been dismissed, after Mirziyoyev called out the ministry for corruption.
Defense Minister Abdusalom Azizov was appointed to replace Abdullaev and Bakhodir Kurbanov, previously commander of the Tashkent military district and head of the Tashkent police department, was appointed to be defense minister, the president office’s statement said on February 11.
