Tashkent clan

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The Tashkent clan is a powerful political clan based in Tashkent, Uzbekistan that controls the Uzbek National Security Service and since late 2005 the Interior Ministry. The Samarkand clan is its biggest rival for control over the Government of Uzbekistan.^[1]

Interior Minister Zakir Almatov, a member of the Samarkand clan, resigned in late 2005 saying his health prohibited him from continuing to serve. President Islam Karimov appointed the deputy director of the Uzbek National Security Service, a member of the Tashkent clan, as his replacement.^[1] Analysts had previously suggested that the Interior Ministry, under Almatov's leadership, had organized the 1999 Tashkent bombings. Others have suggested the bombings were done by the SNB under the leadership of Rustam Inoyatov, who at the time led the Tashkent clan. Analysts suggested a series of bombings in 2004 in Tashkent and Bukhara may have been done by the SNB against the MVD.^[2]

In November 2005 Defense Minister Qodir Gulomov, a member of the Tashkent clan, resigned under pressure from President Karimov. In May 2006 the government found him guilty of fraud, corruption, and abuse of office. Timur Alimov, the leader of the Tashkent clan, presidential adviser, and Gulomov's relative, had recently been fired.^[1]