Shavkat Mirziyoyev became the second President of the Republic of Uzbekistan to hold this post after the death of Islam Karimov. With his arrival, president shavkat mirziyoyev, the people of the country have noticed positive changes in both domestic and foreign policy, strengthening relations with other states. This led to an increase in support among the population and the strengthening of the reputation of a reliable leader, which even the emerging conflicts did not spoil.
Childhood and youth
Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev, whose biography dates back to 1957, was born in Uzbekistan, in the Jizzakh region. He was the youngest child in a large family, grew up with two sisters and a brother. The boy’s parents were medical workers. My father headed a tuberculosis dispensary, and my mother worked as a nurse there.
Shavkat was still small when his mother contracted tuberculosis of the bones and died suddenly. The father soon married a second time, a son and a daughter were born in the marriage – the younger brother and sister of Mirziyoyev. But the relationship with his stepmother did not work out, so the boy often stayed with his grandparents. Despite this, he provided the woman with all possible financial assistance until her death.
After graduating from school, Shavkat left for Tashkent to get a higher education. The choice of a young man fell on the Tashkent Institute of Irrigation and Melioration, where he mastered the specialty of a mechanical engineer. The future official received his diploma in 1981.
Career and politics
In his youth, Mirziyoyev was actively engaged in scientific activities. After graduating from high school, he got a job there as a junior researcher. Even then, Shavkat was considered a talented specialist, which contributed to the rapid advancement of the career ladder. As a result, the young scientist took the post of vice-rector at the alma mater.
Colleagues and leadership remembered the future president as active and decisive. He sought to raise the prestige of his native institute, to increase scientific opportunities. For some time, the young man served as deputy chairman of the party organization and threw his strength into taking care of the teachers. There were three shops at the university, in which benefits were introduced for employees, tailoring was also established at a local factory, where clothes were given out as prizes to distinguished speakers.
The political path of Shavkat Miromonovich began in the 80s. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, he was the secretary of the Komsomol organization, and after Uzbekistan gained independence, he ran for deputies of the Supreme Council and ended up in parliament.
In 1992, Mirziyoyev was appointed hokim (head of administration) of the Mirzo-Ulugbek district of Tashkent and held this post for the next four years. At that time, there was a shortage of food in the city, but the new hokim managed to arrange the supply of dairy products from the Syrdarya region. And on the site entrusted to him, an active transformation of the infrastructure began: new buildings were being built, roads were asphalted, and streets were improved.
Seeing the success of the politician, the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov entrusted him with the management of the Jizzakh region. At the new location, the official immediately set to work. He assembled a working group of experienced experts and began reforms. Under him, the central highway, schools, hospitals, and the Pedagogical Institute were repaired. This contributed to increased trust among local residents as well as senior management.
The next place of work for Shavkat Miromonovich was the administration of the Samarkand region. The subordinates remembered how the new khokim successfully resolved the long-standing conflict between the residents of the mountain villages of Kamangaran and Vagashti. They constantly argued over the lack of water, but the efforts of Mirziyoyev began the construction of a reservoir, which put an end to the differences.
Prime Minister
All the merits of Mirziyoyev were taken into account by Islam Karimov, who in 2003 needed to appoint a new prime minister. The choice fell on a talented official who had previously taken care of the good of the republic. After the appointment, Shavkat Miromonovich again launched a stormy activity.
In subsequent years, his term of office was repeatedly extended. For 13 years of service as an example minister, Mirziyoyev has shown himself to be a skilled politician and a talented leader. He was always principled and strict in dealing with subordinates, whom he severely scolded for misconduct. Separate attention of Shavkat Miromonovich was directed to the fight against corruption and the development of agriculture.
President of Uzbekistan
After the death of Islam Karimov, there was an urgent need to elect a new head of state. Nigmatilla Yuldoshev was appointed interim president, but he voluntarily left this position, so Mirziyoyev took it by decision of the parliament .
In December 2016, presidential elections were held, as a result of which the politician won with over 88% of the vote. After that, he was relieved of the post of prime minister and took the oath of the head of state.
Among the first decrees issued by the President of Uzbekistan Mirziyoyev, there were decrees on the change of the former leadership of the prosecutor’s office. Shavkat Miromonovich left only 20% of the staff from the previous staff. This was a step towards eradicating corruption.
In subsequent years, a number of reforms were carried out aimed at improving the lives of the citizens of Uzbekistan. And in order to know about their needs, the head of state initiated the creation of a virtual reception, where everyone could apply with their problem. More than 1 million applications were received in just one year.
Among the innovations that appeared through the efforts of Mirziyoyev is the introduction of changes in tax legislation to make life easier for entrepreneurs. In the economic sphere, state support for enterprises was introduced, business simplification, and the abolition of the monopoly on the export of fruits and vegetables.
The head of state paid special attention to reforms in education. He contributed to raising salaries for educational workers, returning to 11 years of schooling (before that, after the 9th grade, students entered a lyceum or college to master a specialized specialty) and introducing the Smart University system.
A notable step was taken towards increasing the freedom of the population. Under Shavkat Miromonovich, many prisoners who were taken into custody for political and religious reasons were rehabilitated. He took up the expansion of freedom of speech, the eradication of child and forced labor.
Religiously, too, there have been changes. Through the efforts of the president, minors were admitted to the rituals. The number of mosques and the number of permits for pilgrims traveling to Mecca was increased. This was achieved through an agreement with Saudi Arabia.
Most of the politician’s reforms were received positively, allowing him to be re-elected for a second term in 2021. 80% of voters voted for the incumbent president.
In July 2022, Shavkat Miromonovich had to visit Karakalpakstan to resolve the conflict that broke out after the announcement of the intention to amend the constitution, limiting the voluntary withdrawal of the inhabitants of the autonomy from the state.
In his speech, Mirziyoyev spoke with regret about the casualties among civilians and law enforcement officers. Because of this, he was forced to declare a state of emergency in the region, involving the restriction of movement and the introduction of a curfew. At the same time, the head of state expressed his readiness to make concessions to the residents of Karakalpakstan and cancel the amendments. The presidential press service said that after that the conflict was resolved.
Foreign policy
At the beginning of his reign, Mirziyoyev announced his intention to strengthen relations with the states of Central Asia. He also headed for establishing fruitful cooperation with Russia, the CIS countries, China, Turkey, America and Europe.
The first foreign visit of Shavkat Miromonovich was made to neighboring Turkmenistan. He later flew to Moscow to meet with Vladimir Putin . The leaders of the states reviewed foreign policy plans and discussed trade agreements.
In March 2018, Mirziyoyev made a diplomatic trip to Tajikistan, where he met with Emo Mali Rahmon . The meeting was held in Dushanbe and turned out to be fruitful, 25 documents were signed in various fields. Agreements were established in the political, trade, economic, investment, transport, communications, and tourism sectors. The amount of contracts in the business area amounted to $ 140 million.
Subsequently, the President of Uzbekistan paid diplomatic visits to the leaders of the United States, Germany, France, and China, all of which ended on a positive note. And his efforts to establish peace in Central Asia were noted by the association of journalists of this region, which in 2018 declared Shavkat Miromonovich “Person of the Year in Asia”.
After being elected for a second term, the head of the Uzbek state continued to work on strengthening international relations. Meeting with Vladimir Putin in November 2021, Mirziyoyev noted a breakthrough in the development of cooperation between the countries. In particular, trade turnover has grown.
Personal life
The personal life of the politician has developed successfully. Mirziyoyev met his wife Ziroathon Khoshimova while working at the institute. At that time, the future chosen one was a student, and he served as secretary in the Komsomol committee. The age difference of 10 years did not become an obstacle to the further development of relations.
After the wedding, Ziroathon Mahmudovna chose to keep her maiden name as a sign of respect for her father, who is considered an influential person in Uzbekistan.
In the marriage of a celebrity, three children were born: son Miralisher, daughters Said and Shakhnoz. The heirs of the Uzbek leader are happily married, both sons-in-law work in the presidential administration. Now the grandchildren of Mirziyoyev are being brought up in families.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev now
On April 30, 2023, a referendum was held in Uzbekistan on changes to the basic law of the state. The number of articles and norms has been increased. As the drafters of the bill explained, thanks to the amendments to the constitution, the principle was to be established according to which the interests of the person were put above all else. The obligations of the state to society were more clearly stipulated.
The introduction of amendments could allow the incumbent president to “zero out”, although the norm that one person does not really have to be elected to the highest post more than twice in a row remained unchanged. In addition, now the presidential term has been extended to seven years.
The referendum was held with a high turnout – about 85%. An overwhelming majority voted in favor of the changes being introduced. And in May, Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced early presidential elections that were held in the summer. He won with over 80% of the vote.
Interesting Facts
- In the past, some sources have erroneously claimed that Mirziyoyev is a Tajik by nationality. But this information has been refuted. According to official figures, the politician is Uzbek.
- In his free time, the President of Uzbekistan likes to while away doing agricultural work, he willingly takes care of vineyards, grows fruits and vegetables.
- Shavkat Miromonovich is an honorary doctor of Nagoya University (Japan).
- Mirziyoyev is famous for his modesty. At the beginning of his political career, the official, together with his family, huddled in a two-room apartment, and received his house only after he was appointed khokim of the Mirzo-Ulugbek district. And in the first years as prime minister, the politician was constantly in the shadow of President Karimov, and his photo appeared in the press only in 2006.
