Major General Shukhrat Kholmukhammedov has been appointed Uzbekistan’s Defense Minister by a presidential decree, according to the Ministry of Defense’s press service.

Kholmukhammedov previously served as First Deputy Minister of Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces since March 2021. He has held various prominent positions throughout his career, including Deputy Minister of Defense responsible for armaments and equipment, Deputy Secretary of the Security Council under the President in November 2018, and Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations.

In recognition of his service, Kholmukhammedov was awarded the “For Faithful Service” medal in 2016. His promotion to Major General coincided with his appointment as First Deputy Minister of Defense.

This appointment follows a reshuffle of key positions in Uzbekistan’s security apparatus. Former Defense Minister Bahodir Kurbonov, who had led the ministry since 2019, was recently appointed Chairman of the State Security Service (SSS).

Meanwhile, Abdusalom Azizov, who served as SSS Chairman for nearly five years, was dismissed amid an ongoing investigation into an alleged assassination attempt on Komil Allamjonov, a former senior presidential aide. According to presidential press secretary Sherzod Asadov, Azizov has been reassigned to the Secretariat of the Security Council under the President but has not been given a new official role.