Alisher Azizkhodjaev

Alisher Abbosovich Azizkhodjaev was born in 1953 in the Rishton district of the Fergana region; his father worked in the region’s law-enforcement bodies. He graduated from the law faculty of Tashkent State University (now the National University of Uzbekistan), then pursued postgraduate study, defended his dissertations and became a Doctor of Law and a professor.

He began in academia: from 1975 to 1991 he held various posts at Tashkent State University. In 1990 the Tashkent publisher “O‘zbekiston” issued his book on the law-enforcement work of local Soviets.

After independence he served as an adviser to the President (until 1996), overseeing science and education. From November 1996 to 1998 he was Deputy Prime Minister, in charge of culture and education. In 1998 he joined interdepartmental commissions on the legality of religious communities’ activities and on improving information work. From 1999 to 2003 he headed the Academy of State and Public Construction under the President.

On 7 October 2003 he was again appointed Deputy Prime Minister (culture) and chaired the Republican Council for Spirituality and Enlightenment. From 4 October 2004 he was Minister of Culture and Sports. From 6 July 2006 to November 2007 he was the President’s press secretary.

From November 2007 he headed a department at the Tashkent State Law Institute; he is also named as president of the Uzbekistan Kurash Federation.

Alisher Azizkhodjaev died on 9 January 2012 in Germany, where he was receiving treatment. A classroom at Tashkent State University of Law bears his name.