NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER KUVANDIK SANAKULOV

C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000748 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, INR/REA, INR/B E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2017 TAGS: PGOV EMIN ECON PINR UZ SUBJECT: NEW DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER KUVANDIK SANAKULOV Classified By: Amb. Jon R. Purnell, for reasons 1.4 (b, d). ¶1. (SBU) Kuvandik Sanakulovich Sanakulov was appointed Deputy Prime Minister for metallurgy and mining in mid-March. Although we have not yet seen the official appointment decree, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Protocol Department has confirmed the information. An ethnic Uzbek, Sanakulov was born in 1957. Prior to his appointment, Sanakulov was Director General of the Olmalyk Open Joint Stock Society. On August 28, 2004, President Karimov awarded Sanakulov the "Dustlik" (Friendship) order. ¶2. (C) Comment: Sanakulov is reportedly close to Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev. Some government sources have indicated to us that Sanakulov's appointment will only be as durable as Prime Minister Mirziyaev's ability to stay in power. Other than his work at Olmalyk, little else is known about him. Sanakulov's appointment may be a blow to Deputy Prime Minister Ergash Shoismatov. Shoismatov's portfolio previously included metallurgy and mining in addition to energy. With Sanakulov's appointment, Shoismatov has lost the mining and metallurgy portfolio. PURNELL