Uzbek president fires head of state TV, radio channel for failing to cope with its modernization
TASHKENT. Aug 3 (Interfax) - Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has issued a decree dismissing Khurshid Mirzakhidov as director of the country's National Television and Radio Company (NTRC), a source in the presidential executive office told Interfax on Wednesday.
"Khurshid Mirzakhidov has been dismissed from the post of chairman of the National Television and Radio Company following yesterday's conference call in line with a decision made by the head of state," the source said.
During the conference call, the president criticized the TV and radio company's operations for not being up to modern-day standards, he said.
The position of NTRC head is currently vacant.
Mirzakhidov became NTRC director in February 2017. Prior to this appointment, he had served as Uzbekistan's minister for the development of information technologies and communications.
NTRC operates 12 TV channels and four radio stations. It launched Uzbekistan's first round-the-clock news channel, Uzbekistan 24, at the end of July. It offers broadcasts in Uzbek, Russian and English. It may also become the first Uzbek national TV channel to open some ten correspondent offices abroad, including in Russia.
