Assassination Attempt Sparks Political Speculation in Uzbekistan

On October 26, a failed assassination attempt on a former high-ranking official, Komil Allamjonov, took place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Amidst increasing political tensions, two assailants fired eight bullets at Allamjonov’s vehicle during the night. Fortunately, neither Allamjonov nor his driver sustained any injuries.

The incident has ignited speculations of a potential power struggle among factions vying for influence around President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, as they aim to secure their positions as possible successors. One month before the attack, Allamjonov resigned from the role of leading the department of informational policy in the president’s office, intensifying rumors about internal political dynamics.

His unexpected resignation raised questions about the impact on the political standing of Saida Mirziyoyeva, the president’s eldest daughter, and a prominent contender in the succession race. Notably, Allamjonov and Mirziyoyeva have collaborated on various governmental projects over the past eight years.

The authorities, including the Prosecutor General’s Office, have remained silent on the assassination attempt, refraining from explicitly mentioning Allamjonov in official statements, which only reported a shooting incident. This lack of communication from Allamjonov and the government has fueled widespread speculation, often resembling a suspenseful detective narrative.

Further developments occurred on October 27, when a video surfaced showing two men confessing to the attack and expressing their intention to surrender to police. An accompanying audio recording accused Allamjonov of orchestrating the attack but failing to compensate the perpetrators as promised. Allegations that Allamjonov planned the incident himself circulated rapidly on Uzbek social media.

Radio Ozodlik (the Uzbek branch of RFE/RL) reported claims that bloggers and journalists disseminating these rumors acted under guidance from «media supervisors,» allegedly following orders from security services. The channel’s investigation remains the most thorough coverage of the event so far.

The case intensified with the identification of one of the attackers as Shohruh Ahmedov, revealing international connections. Ahmedov, linked with Chechnya’s President Ramzan Kadyrov, had previously been detained by Turkish police while allegedly plotting against a critic of Kadyrov in Istanbul. Despite this, Kadyrov has publicly denied involvement in the Tashkent attack.

Attention has also turned towards Mirziyoyev’s son-in-law, and deputy head of the presidential security service, Otabek Umarov. The involvement of Javlon Yunusov, an Uzbek national recently detained in South Korea, has drawn suspicion. Yunusov’s potential connections to Umarov, now under scrutiny, could suggest an internal dispute.

Sources have described Yunusov as a close associate of Umarov within Ferghana Valley, an essential region in eastern Uzbekistan, adding layers to the ongoing speculations. However, despite being under the president’s personal supervision, the findings of the investigation may remain confidential due to its sensitive nature.