According to Russian pro-regime web site Lenta.ru analysts talking about Karimov's possible successors often name Rustam Inoyatov, the head of the Uzbekistan Intelligence Service (SNB), Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbek Prime Minister, and his deputy, Rustam Azimov.
Inoyatov, being the head of the Uzbekistan Intelligence Service (SNB), is an extremely private person. He was born in 1944 in the South Eastern Surxondaryo Viloyati region, he graduated from the faculty of oriental studies at Tashkent University with a geographic focus on Iran, he served in the Russian KGB, worked in Afghanistan under diplomatic cover, and has headed the Uzbek National Intelligence Service SNB since 1995.
The head of Uzbekistan Intelligence and Counterintelligence Service (SNB) gained strength after crushing the revolt in Andijon in 2005 (known as Andijan massacre). According to Russian observers and experts of the Uzbek file the heads of the security agency or Intelligence Service departments in Uzbekistan play a crucial role in the regime. The formation of the republic in the 1990s did occur at a time when the Islamists were trying to seize control of the country and civil wars were underway in neighboring Afghanistan and Tajikistan. Tashkent had to stop the Islamists who "were on their way to success" and take part in pacifying their neighbors. This helped to strenghten the standing and influence of the Uzbekistan Intelligence Service (SNB).
It is worth noting that the other candidates to political succession are not at all media figures either, even if they are not members of the Uzbek Intelligence service or apparatus. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who is originally from Jizzax Viloyati region (some sources say he is actually from Tajikistan's Istaravshan Region), has experience in managing local affairs in his native region and Samarqand Viloyati which is president Islom Karimov's home region. Mirziyoyev has held the post of prime minister since 2003. This means that the head of state developed a strong relationship with the head of the Cabinet of Ministers over all these years.
Two unofficial theories exist about the relationship between the powerful head of the Uzbekistan Intelligence Service (SNB) and the prime minister. According to one of them, Mirziyoyev is the protégé of Inoyatov. In this case, one could easily assume that the head of the SNB will facilitate his colleague's accession to power while remaining in the shadows. According to the other theory, Mirziyoyev is not supported by the security agency structures and in this case it will be more difficult for him to rise to the top positions in the state administration.
Rustam Azimov, the former finance and economy minister, was born in the Uzbek capital, he graduated from Tashkent University, and has a master's degree from Oxford University. He is a highly qualified expert in the sphere of finance and economics. According to some reports, Azimov supported the president's oldest daughter – Gulnara Karimova – and helped her to keep significant amounts of money. The current deputy prime minister also has connections among the heads of the Uzbekistan Intelligence Service (SNB) structures.
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