Uzbekistan's president dismissed his chief of staff in what appeared to be fallout from last week’s spasm of violence in northwestern Karakalpakstan, the worst in the Central Asian nation in 17 years.
Zainilobiddin Nizomiddinov's dismissal was officially due to health reasons, according to a government statement. The office of President Shavkat Mirziyoev did not comment further on his departure.
Nizomiddiinov, 49, has worked closely with Mirziyoev since 2016. As chief of staff in the presidential administration, he was considered a powerful political figure.
Officials have told RFE/RL he was also instrumental in pushing proposed changes to the national constitution. Those changes were seen as sharply limiting the autonomy -- or even potential independence -- of Karakalpakstan, a sprawling desert region in northwestern Uzbekistan.
SEE ALSO: Karakalpakstan In 'Information Vacuum' As Situation Stabilizes Following Deadly UnrestThe current constitution states that Karakalpakstan is a sovereign republic within the country and has the right to secede by holding a referendum.
The region is largely inhabited by Turkic-speaking Karakalpaks who had special autonomy even under Soviet rule.
Sizable protests broke out in the regional capital, Nukus, and other towns after the changes were announced on June 27. In the ensuing turmoil, at least 18 people were killed -- including four police officers -- and 243 wounded in clashes with security forces, according to Uzbek prosecutors.
Rights activists and exiled opposition politicians say they believe the real toll is higher.
Mirziyoev on July 2 backed down on the proposed amendments.
He later blamed the violence on what he called foreign forces, and the Foreign Ministry described the disorder as "mass pogroms and atrocities.”
The United States and the United Nations human rights chief called for a full and transparent investigation into the bloodshed, which is the worst since 2005 when the country was rocked by protests and a brutal security crackdown in the Andijan region.