The Role and Features of Uzbek Local Authorities within a System of Strong Central Government

The Councils of People’s Deputies (Xalq deputatlari Kengashlari) are the representatives of Uzbek state authorities in regions, districts and towns. The hokims (governors) of regions, districts and towns are the highest officials of the state’s local authorities. They simultaneously serve as heads of representatives and executive authorities in their respective territories. In the small settlements, kishlaks and auls (villages) and in the residential neighbourhoods (mahallas) of cities and towns, the residents of the particular mahallas decide all local matters at general meetings. These local self-governing bodies elect their Chairmen (aksakal) and the members of his chamber for a term of two-and-a-half years. In Uzbekistan's system of strong central government, local government has little independence. The chief executive of each province and of Tashkent is the hakim, who is appointed by the president. Although these appointments must be confirmed by local legislative bodies that are elected by popular vote, the power of the president is dominant. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, has introduced wide-ranging economic, judicial, and social reforms to increase local officials’ accountability. This paper thus provides an account of the Uzbek local authorities’ roles, functions and the reform processes the government has introduced to better organize the state authority bodies at the regional, districts and mahalla levels