Rustam Inoyatov

Rustam Rasulovich Inoyatov (Russian: Рустам Расулович Иноятов, born 22 June 1944) is a former Uzbek government official, as well as a colonel general. He was head of the National Security Service of Uzbekistan (SNB) from 1995 until his dismissal in January 2018. He was said to have been part of the Tashkent clan, a powerful faction within the Uzbek elite. Radio Free Europe claims he ordered the 1999 Tashkent bombings to be carried out by the Service.[1] He is said to be one of the most powerful men in the country.[2]

Rustam Inoyatov
Born (1944-06-22) June 22, 1944
Shirabad, Surxondaryo Region, Uzbek SSR, USSR
Allegiance Soviet Union
 Uzbekistan
Service/branch KGB
(1970–1991)
National Security Service
(1991–2018)
Years of service1970–2018
RankColonel general
Commands heldNational Security Service

Early life

Inoyatov was born June 22, 1944, to Rasul Inoyatov, a colonel in the Uzbek Soviet Socialist Republic's KGB, being part of an influential family. He graduated from the School of Eastern Studies in 1968. Inoyatov learned English and Persian, becoming one of the heads of the Tashkent clan.

Rise to power

In 1995, the President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, gave him the position of chief of the SNB as a counter weight to his rival's power, Zokir Almatov, the Minister of Internal Affairs. Under Inoyatov's leadership, the SNB rose to power over the rival MVD of Almatov. By 1999, they had more power and funding than the MVD. Radio Free Europe suggests that the 1999 bombings in Tashkent were carried out by the SNB under Inyatov's orders.

Both Inoyatov and his rival thought of committing a coup d'état against Karimov around 2004 and 2005. In the beginning of 2005, Inoyatov was given control of the customs service and the border guard. He was one of the eight Uzbek officials blacklisted by the European Union.[3]

He is widely thought to be the kingmaker when Islam Karimov died.[4][5][2]

Inoyatov was dismissed by Shavkat Mirziyoyev on January 31, 2018.[6]

References
  1. Radio Free Europe feature on bombings
  2. Dubnov, Arkady (2 September 2016). "Персонально ваш" (in Russian). Echo of Moscow. Retrieved 4 September 2016.
  3. SNB vs MVD of Uzbekistan
  4. Who Could Replace Uzbekistan’s Ailing President? Radio Free Europe
  5. MacFarquhar, Neil (2016-08-29). "With Uzbekistan's Ruler Gravely Ill, Questions Arise on Succession". New York Times. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  6. Melikishvili, Alex (February 1, 2018). "Dismissal of Uzbekistan's security chief key indication on outcome of president's economic and political liberalisation agenda". Jane's Information Group.
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