Uzbek deputy PM Zoyir Mirzayev is fired

On October 29, 2018, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a decree “on increasing the responsibility of heads of state authorities at all levels for preventing and eradicating any manifestations and all forms of forced labor”, the press service of the President reports.

In accordance with the decree, the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Zoyir Mirzayev was dismissed from his post for serious shortcomings in the grain harvest and irrigation.

The document instructs the Prosecutor-General of the Republic of Uzbekistan to verify the facts of violation of the law during agricultural work, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the heads of state authorities and local economic associations to ensure the effective implementation of measures to eradicate all forms and any manifestations of forced labor.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed he will have zero tolerance for forced labor and violations of the law during agricultural work.

It should be noted that on October 27, a picture depicting khokimiyat officials, chairman of the local authority and two farmers standing on the irrigation ditch in “Akkurgan” district, Tashkent region went viral on the internet.

Reportedly, these events occurred during Zoyir Mirzayev’s visit to Tashkent region. He, allegedly, forced 6 men into the ditch for poor harvest results and abused their rights.