Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT242
2008-02-22 11:23:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEK PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE DENIES DISMISSAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000242
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2028
TAGS: PGOV ECON KPAO PREL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEK PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE DENIES DISMISSAL
REPORT
REF: TASHKENT 237
Classified By: P/E Chief Ted Burkhalter; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000242
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2028
TAGS: PGOV ECON KPAO PREL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEK PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE DENIES DISMISSAL
REPORT
REF: TASHKENT 237
Classified By: P/E Chief Ted Burkhalter; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev's press
secretary and others are denying reports that First Deputy
SIPDIS
Prime Minister Rustam Azimov will be named acting Prime
Minister. The reports have touched a raw nerve and open a
window on a palace intrigue whose ultimate stakes may be the
succession to the Presidency. President Karimov's role in
the intrigue is unknown. End summary.
2. (C) Radio Free Europe ran an interview late February 21
with Prime Minister Mirziyaev's press secretary, Sherzod
Kudratkhojaev, who denied the Uzmetronom internet report and
said his boss will remain in office. Russia's Interfax news
agency, meanwhile, reported that an official Uzbek Government
news service had also denied the report. Mass media inside
Uzbekistan (print, telvision, radio) have been entirely
silent on the issue, and no governmental denial has appeared
online. The report clearly touched a raw nerve in certain
quarters, and we suspect Mirziyaev may be fighting a
rear-guard action. The report's author, meanwhile, stands by
his information (reftel),saying that his source is adamant.
3. (C) According to Embassy contacts in the Parliament and
the Cabinet of Ministers (names available if needed),
National Security Service Chairman Rustam Inoyatov favors
Mirziyaev as the next President of Uzbekistan. According to
this version of the palace intrigue, Inoyatov has sufficient
compromising information on Mirziyaev to ensure his own
interests are protected. By the same token, Azimov may be
less vulnerable. As Minister of Finance, he very well may
have been in a position to take notes on questionable
financial transactions of other members of the Government.
4. (C) What role President Karimov may have in this palace
intrigue is unknown. Will a winner emerge? Is Karimov
testing the waters - forcing the players to show their hands?
We believe a power play is in motion, but beyond that all is
speculation. We believe that Azimov would, as Prime
Minister, promote policies that would help ensure the
economic growth on which Uzbekistan's future stability will
so heavily depend.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/22/2028
TAGS: PGOV ECON KPAO PREL UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEK PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE DENIES DISMISSAL
REPORT
REF: TASHKENT 237
Classified By: P/E Chief Ted Burkhalter; reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (C) Summary: Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyaev's press
secretary and others are denying reports that First Deputy
SIPDIS
Prime Minister Rustam Azimov will be named acting Prime
Minister. The reports have touched a raw nerve and open a
window on a palace intrigue whose ultimate stakes may be the
succession to the Presidency. President Karimov's role in
the intrigue is unknown. End summary.
2. (C) Radio Free Europe ran an interview late February 21
with Prime Minister Mirziyaev's press secretary, Sherzod
Kudratkhojaev, who denied the Uzmetronom internet report and
said his boss will remain in office. Russia's Interfax news
agency, meanwhile, reported that an official Uzbek Government
news service had also denied the report. Mass media inside
Uzbekistan (print, telvision, radio) have been entirely
silent on the issue, and no governmental denial has appeared
online. The report clearly touched a raw nerve in certain
quarters, and we suspect Mirziyaev may be fighting a
rear-guard action. The report's author, meanwhile, stands by
his information (reftel),saying that his source is adamant.
3. (C) According to Embassy contacts in the Parliament and
the Cabinet of Ministers (names available if needed),
National Security Service Chairman Rustam Inoyatov favors
Mirziyaev as the next President of Uzbekistan. According to
this version of the palace intrigue, Inoyatov has sufficient
compromising information on Mirziyaev to ensure his own
interests are protected. By the same token, Azimov may be
less vulnerable. As Minister of Finance, he very well may
have been in a position to take notes on questionable
financial transactions of other members of the Government.
4. (C) What role President Karimov may have in this palace
intrigue is unknown. Will a winner emerge? Is Karimov
testing the waters - forcing the players to show their hands?
We believe a power play is in motion, but beyond that all is
speculation. We believe that Azimov would, as Prime
Minister, promote policies that would help ensure the
economic growth on which Uzbekistan's future stability will
so heavily depend.
NORLAND