BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON ALLABERGEN ALLABERGENOV, NEWLY

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000229 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PINR UZ SUBJECT: BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ON ALLABERGEN ALLABERGENOV, NEWLY APPOINTED HOKIM OF KHOREZM REGION ¶1. (SBU) On February 15, 2008, President Karimov appointed Allabergen Allabergenov as Hokim (Governor) of Khorezm Province. Allabergenov, an ethnic Uzbek, was born in 1960, in Goibu Village, Urgench District, Khorezm Province. We do not know where he attended university - only that he did. After graduating from university, he served successively as a district-level Chief in the Department of Agricultural Technology; Chief of the Sections - a staff position - in the District and the Regional Hokimiyats (mayoral and gubernatorial offices, respectively); Chief of the Control Inspectorate of Khorezm Region; First Deputy Chairman and the Chairman of the National Association "Uzplodovoschprom" ("Uzbek Industry for Processing of Fruits and Vegetables"); Hokim (mayor) of Bagat District, Khorezm Province; First Deputy Hokim of Khorezm Province; and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Water Management of Uzbekistan. ¶2. (SBU) Allabergenov replaces Islam Babadjanov, who served in the position from 2000 and was until his removal the longest-serving provincial hokim in Uzbekistan. Babadjanov was reportedly fired for failing to improve socio-economic conditions in Khorezm, one of the country's poorest regions. Allabergenov, according to contacts within the Government of Uzbekistan, is not seen as a particularly strong leader and may be intended only as a temporary replacement. NORLAND