Uzbekistan’s Presidential Daughter Just Got a Law of Her Own
The new presidential administration law grants its head – Saida Mirziyoyeva – sweeping new powers, and immunity.
On August 6, the Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan passed the Law on the Administration of the President, followed by the Senate's approval the next day. The law, signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on August 14, solidifies the status of the administration and grants lifetime immunity to its officials. The administration was established in 2018 to support the President and has seen several heads over the years.
Saida Mirziyoyeva, the eldest daughter of Mirziyoyev, has been an integral part of the administration since 2019. She served in various roles, including deputy director of the Agency for Information and Mass Communications and deputy chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Fund for Support and Development of Mass Media. In 2022, she became the head of the Department for Communications and Information Policy, and in August 2023, she was appointed as an assistant to the president.
The new law extends Saida Mirziyoyeva's powers, making her head of the administration with no need for legislative approval to be appointed or dismissed by the president. The administration now has the authority to issue mandatory instructions, supervise the implementation of presidential orders, and even dismiss regional governors.
Moreover, the administration will take over the anti-corruption compliance system, with Saida Mirziyoyeva appointed to appoint and dismiss "deputies (advisors) of heads of state bodies and organizations at the republican level for compliance and internal control against corruption."
Critics argue that this law grants the administration unchecked power, with the presidential administration having direct access to the database of any government institution. This raises concerns about the independence of the judicial system and the potential for corruption. The law also implicitly places Saida Mirziyoyeva in a position to potentially succeed her father as president, as she is now trusted with the highest level of authority and lifetime immunity.
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