Uzbekistan: Top Officials Jailed in Possible Purge

Uzbekistan-focused media have reported in recent days on what appears to be a wave of arrests among high-placed government officials.

Reporting on what might be the most high-profile casualty to date, the Tashkent-based Uzmetronom said on November 22 that President Islam Karimov's law enforcement adviser, Ravshan Mukhiddinov, has been arrested as part of a corruption probe. At almost exactly the same time, deputy General Prosecutor Mukhiddin Kiyemov tendered his resignation, although nothing more of his fate is known, Uzmetronom said.

Prior to acting as Karimov's adviser, Mukhiddinov served as justice minister from January 2008 to June 2011.

This alleged arrest follows a November 21 report by the opposition Uznews.net portal that former Emergency Services Minister Tursinkhon Khudaibergenov has been charged with abuse of office and embezzlement of state funds. 

 

It is unclear whether there are any links between the two cases. Going by the Uznews report, Khudaibergenov has long been in the crosshairs for his allegedly rampant corruption: "He has pulled strings for friends who were keen to leave the country ... and he gave jobs with financial responsibility to his cronies. The price of such patronage, witnesses say, was between $5,000 and $10,000.”

As ever, in the absence of official information, even the most basic facts cannot be established beyond doubt. Therefore, expect speculation on whether this is indeed part of a broader fight against graft or, in fact, just another episode of intrigue and skullduggery at Karimov's court.