Deputy Prime Minister, Zoyyir Mirzayev, has been fired for failing to properly organize work on sowing and irrigation of winter crops, according to Uzbek president’s website President.uz

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reportedly signed an appropriate decree on this subject on October 29.   Mirzayev was reportedly fired after it revealed that he had humiliated farmers on a recent agricultural inspection trip. 

A widely circulated photo on October 27 showed local officials and six farmers in Akkurgan district of Tashkent region being humiliated by being forced to stand in water-filled ditch as an official behind the camera berated them.  It turned out later that deputy head of Akkurgan district forced them to stand in the ditch for not properly irrigating wheat fields, according to Ferghana news agency.  The photo was reportedly taken on October 25. 


Another photo that was taken on the same day showed six men standing with stones in their hands.  According to Kun.uz, this photo was taken in Bekabad district of Tashkent region. 


The media reports say  Zoyyir Mirzayev was present in both cases.