Фото: president.uz
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has dismissed Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Belarus, Rakhmatulla Nazarov, over an “indifferent attitude toward attracting investment and developing foreign trade.” The announcement was made by presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov on his Telegram blog.
“The ambassador to Belarus was dismissed because of an indifferent attitude toward attracting investment and developing foreign trade.”, he wrote.
The decision was announced on July 21 during a videoconference meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to review economic growth achieved in the regions and sectors during the first half of the year and discuss priority tasks through the end of the year.
The official press release published on the Uzbek president’s website does not mention the ambassador’s dismissal but states that the work of diplomatic missions should be reviewed.
“The Presidential Administration has been tasked with reviewing the work of diplomatic missions in the areas of economic diplomacy, investment attraction, and export development, as well as recommending young and modern-minded candidates to replace heads who are failing to fulfill their duties.”, the statement said.
Rakhmatulla Nazarov was appointed ambassador in 2024. Before his appointment, he represented Uzbekistan in Belarus as embassy counselor and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim.
Nazarov’s dismissal comes amid a controversy over the arrival of labor migrants from Uzbekistan in Belarus. On July 13, 255 Uzbek citizens arrived in Vitsyebsk. They said they had been promised salaries of between $900 and $1,000 a month, but after arriving were told they would earn about $500 and would have to pay for accommodation and meals themselves. This prompted dissatisfaction among some of the workers, and some said they wanted to return home.
On July 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed officials during a government meeting to accelerate the implementation of agreements reached during his recent visit to Belarus, including those concerning the organized employment of Uzbek citizens.
The same day, a new video message from one of the Uzbek workers appeared on social media. He asked people not to circulate the previously published video containing complaints and said that conditions had changed following negotiations. According to him, workers are now being offered salaries of about $700, along with free accommodation and meals.